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Ernie Whitt

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Ernie Whitt
Whitt with theToronto Blue Jaysin 2008
Catcher
Born:(1952-06-13)June 13, 1952(age 72)
Detroit, Michigan,U.S.
Batted:Left
Threw:Right
MLB debut
September 12, 1976, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
July 3, 1991, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Batting average.249
Home runs134
Runs batted in534
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Member of the Canadian
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2009

Leo Ernest Whitt(born June 13, 1952) is anAmericanformer professional baseballcatcher.He played 15 seasons inMajor League Baseball(MLB), including twelve for theToronto Blue Jays,and was the last player from the franchise's inaugural season of 1977 to remain through 1989. Whitt was inducted into theOntario Sports Hall of Famein 1997 and theCanadian Baseball Hall of Famein 2009.

Whitt made his MLB debut for theBoston Red Soxin 1976. For eight consecutive seasons from 1982 to 1989, he reached double figures inhome runsand 100 hits in each of five consecutive seasons from 1985 to 1989. He was selected as anAll-Starin 1985.

As manager for theCanada national baseball teamsince 2004, his competitions include the2004 Summer Olympics,fourWorld Baseball Classic(WBC) tournaments, and thePan Am Games,where they won twogold medalsin 2011 and 2015.

Playing career

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Boston Red Sox (1976)

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Whitt was selected in the 15th round of the1972 amateur draftby theBoston Red Sox,[1]and he made his major league debut on September 12, 1976, pinch hitting forCarlton Fiskin the seventh inning, grounding out. He finished the game as the Red Sox catcher, as Boston defeated theCleveland Indians11–3.[2]Whitt recorded his first career hit on September 21, hitting a home run offJim Colbornof theMilwaukee Brewersin a 3–1 loss.[3]He appeared in eight games with Boston, batting.222 with a home run and 3 RBI.[4]With his path to the majors blocked by futureHall-of-FamerFisk, he was left unprotected during theexpansion draftheld after the 1976 season and selected by the Blue Jays.[5]

Toronto Blue Jays (1977–89)

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Whitt began the 1977 season in the minors, but after an injury toRick Cerone,he was called up to the Blue Jays in May to serve as the second-string catcher behindAlan Ashby.However, Whitt saw very little playing time with the Blue Jays in 1977. Appearing in 23 games, he hit.171 with no home runs and 6 RBI.[4]Whitt's major league season ended on August 16, when Cerone was reinstated from the disabled list and resumed working in tandem with Ashby. Whitt was sent back to the minors and was not recalled in September.

In 1978, he spent most of the year in triple-A. Called up in September to Toronto, he played in just two games, going hitless in four at-bats.[4]In 1979, Whitt spent the entire season with theSyracuse Chiefs,the Blue Jays AAA affiliate in theInternational League.Whitt speculated in his autobiography that Blue Jays managerRoy Hartsfieldhad a low opinion of his potential, as most of the catching duties went toAlan AshbyandRick Cerone.With Hartsfield's departure prior to the1980 season,new managerBobby Mattickexpanded Whitt's role as a player, and Whitt remained with the club for the next ten years.

In 1980, Whitt became the Blue Jays starting catcher, as he appeared in 106 games, hitting.237 with six home runs and 34 RBI.[4]He saw his numbers slip in 1981, as Whitt hit.236 with a home run and 16 RBI in 74 games during the strike-shortened season.[6]On May 15 of the latter year, his fly ball was caught byCleveland IndianoutfielderRick Manningfor the final out ofLen Barker's perfect game.[7]

Whitt broke out offensively in 1982. Throughout 105 games, he hit.261 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI for the Blue Jays.[4]His 11 home runs ranked third on the team.[8]

In 1985, Whitt was named to the1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.He appeared in the game in the sixth inning as a defensive replacement forCarlton Fiskand caught teammateDave Stieb.[9]Whitt also caught in the seventh inning forDonnie Mooreof theCalifornia AngelsbeforeGary Wardof theTexas Rangerspinch hit for Whitt in the eighth inning.[9]During the season, Whitt hit.245 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI, as he helped the Blue Jays make the playoffs for the first time in team history.[4]In the1985 ALCSagainst theKansas City Royals,Whitt appeared in all seven games, hitting.190 with 2 RBI as the Blue Jays lost the series.[4]

On September 14, 1987, Whitt hit three home runs in a game against theBaltimore Orioles,helping the Blue Jays hit a major league record ten home runs in the game. Toronto defeated the Orioles 18–3.[10]Whitt would have the best season of his career in 1987, as he hit.269 with 19 home runs and 75 RBI in 135 games.[4]

In 1989, Whitt played in 129 games, hitting.262 with 11 home runs, his lowest total in a season since 1982, and his 53 RBI were the lowest total since 1984.[4]In the playoffs, Whitt played in all five games against theOakland Athleticsin the1989 ALCS,batting.125 with a home run and 3 RBI, as the Blue Jays lost the series.[4]

To make room for young catchersPat BordersandGreg Myerson the major league roster, on December 17, 1989, the Blue Jays traded Whitt andKevin Batisteto theAtlanta BravesforRicky Trlicek.Whitt was the last player from the expansion 1977 team to play for the Blue Jays.[11]

Atlanta Braves (1990)

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Whitt joined theAtlanta Bravesfor the 1990 season, and had a disappointing season, as he hit.172 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 67 games.[4]On October 15, the Braves released Whitt.[4]

Baltimore Orioles (1991)

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On April 7, 1991, Whitt returned to theAmerican League,signing with theBaltimore Orioles.[4]In 35 games, Whitt hit.242 with 3 RBI, and he was released by the Orioles on July 5.[4]

Whitt appeared in 1,328 games over his career, 1,218 of them with the Blue Jays. In his career, he recorded 938 hits, and had a batting average of.249 with 134 home runs and 534 RBI.[4]In 12 career playoff games, Whitt hit.162 with one home run and 5 RBI.[4]

Business activities

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Whitt invested in and was part owner of theMother's Pizzachain in southern Ontario in 1983. He would frequently appear at the restaurants and sign autographs for fans. Mother's Pizza featured an "Ernie Whitt Special" pizza on the menu. The chain went bankrupt in 1992.[12]

Post-playing career

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Honors

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Whitt was inducted into theOntario Sports Hall of Famein 1997.[13]

On June 20, 2009, it was announced that Whitt, along with former major leagueright fielderLarry Walker,were inducted into theCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame.[14]

Managerial and coaching career

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Whitt remained active as an ambassador of Canadian baseball following his major league career. In the2004 Summer OlympicsinAthens,he guided the Canadian team to a fourth-place finish in thebaseball tournament.Whitt also managed theCanada national baseball teamto a third-place finish in Pool B at the2006 World Baseball Classic.

Whitt also served as both the Blue Jays'bench coachandfirst base coachstarting in2005,and was rumoured to be a potential replacement for then-incumbent managerJohn Gibbonsuntil Gibbons and several coaches were fired midway through the2008 season.He was the manager of theClearwater Threshersin the Philadelphia Phillies' minor league system. Whitt continues to be a roaming instructor in the Phillies' organization.

Whitt has managed Team Canada in followingWorld Baseball Classics,World Baseball Cup, and the Pan Am Games. In the2011 Pan Am GamesinGuadalajara,Mexico,Canada won that tournament'sgold medal.[15][16]and a bronze medal in the IBAF World Baseball Cup.

References

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  1. ^"15th Round of the 1972 MLB June Amateur Draft".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  2. ^"Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox Box Score, September 12, 1976".Baseball-Reference.September 12, 1976.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  3. ^"Milwaukee Brewers at Boston Red Sox Box Score, September 21, 1976".Baseball-Reference.September 21, 1976.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  4. ^abcdefghijklmnop"Ernie Whitt Stats".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  5. ^"1976 MLB Expansion Drafts".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  6. ^"Ernie Whitt Stats".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  7. ^Newman, Bruce (May 25, 1981)."Perfect in every way: Len Barker makes history".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  8. ^"1982 Toronto Blue Jays Statistics".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  9. ^ab"1985 All-Star Game Box Score, July 16".Baseball-Reference.July 16, 1985.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  10. ^"Box Score of Game played on Monday, September 14, 1987 at Exhibition Stadium".Baseball Almanac.September 14, 1987.
  11. ^"Blue Jays Trade Whitt to Braves".The New York Times.December 18, 1989.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  12. ^Clarke, Steve (2017).100 Things Blue Jays Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die (Revised and Updated).Triumph Books.p. 288.ISBN9781629374123.
  13. ^"Ernie Whitt".oshof.ca.Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2016.RetrievedJune 11,2016.
  14. ^"Walker, Whitt inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall".CBC Sports.The Canadian Press.June 20, 2009.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
  15. ^Doolittle, Robyn (October 26, 2011)."Canada's baseball win over U.S. at Pan Ams doesn't surprise Ernie Whitt".Toronto Star.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
  16. ^Rav gian a, Alykhan (July 12, 2015)."Canada tops Dominican Republic in men's baseball at Pan Ams".National Post.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
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