Devon White (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devon White |
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White in 2009
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: December 29, 1962 Kingston, Jamaica |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1985, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 2001, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 208 | ||
| Runs batted in | 846 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Devon Markes Whyte (born December 29, 1962), often known as Devon White, is a former professional baseball player. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Devon was a great center fielder, known for his amazing defense. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. After playing, he became a coach.
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Early Life and Name Change
Devon Whyte was born in Kingston, Jamaica. When he was nine, his family moved to the United States. During their move, a mistake happened with their last name. The paperwork accidentally spelled it as "White" instead of "Whyte".
Even though his name was legally changed back to "Whyte" in 2003, he was known as "Devon White" throughout his baseball career. He still uses that spelling when signing autographs. His daughter, Davellyn Whyte, also played professional basketball.
Devon went to Park West High School in Manhattan, New York City. He mostly played basketball in high school. He started playing baseball after watching New York Yankees and Mets games with his dad. He even got a scholarship offer to play both sports in college.
Devon White's Baseball Journey
Starting with the California Angels
The California Angels picked Devon White in the 1981 draft. He first played in the major leagues in 1985. By 1987, he was a full-time player. He showed off his power by hitting 24 home runs. He also showed his speed by stealing 32 bases that season.
In 1988, his second full season, he won his first Gold Glove award. This award goes to the best defensive players. He would go on to win seven Gold Gloves in his career. On September 9, 1989, Devon did something rare. He stole second base, then third base, and then home plate all in the same play!
Winning with the Toronto Blue Jays
In 1990, Devon White joined the Toronto Blue Jays. With the Blue Jays, he won two World Series championships. He also won five more Gold Gloves during his time in Toronto. Devon was known for playing even better in the playoffs. His batting average was much higher in the postseason.
In Game 3 of the 1992 World Series, Devon was part of a famous play. He made an amazing catch in center field. He jumped into the wall to catch the ball. Then, he threw the ball to second base. The Blue Jays almost completed a rare triple play. The umpire missed a call, which stopped the triple play from happening.
While playing for the Blue Jays, Devon even appeared on a Canadian children's TV show. He was on Under the Umbrella Tree in 1993. He talked with the puppet characters Jacob Bluejay and Iggy Iguana.
Playing for the Florida Marlins
After the 1995 season, Devon White signed with the Florida Marlins. He won another World Series with them in 1997. This made him a three-time World Series champion!
Later Years in Baseball
After the Marlins, Devon played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired from playing in 2002. On April 11, 2000, he made history. He got the very first hit at Oracle Park (then called Pacific Bell Park) in San Francisco. This was a big moment for the new ballpark.
Career Highlights
Devon White played in 1941 games over 17 seasons. He had 1934 hits and 208 home runs. He also stole 346 bases. He was a great fielder, with a .986 fielding percentage. In the playoffs, he played in 49 games. He batted very well, helping his teams win three World Series titles.
Coaching Career
In 2017, Devon White started coaching for the Blue Jays organization. He became the hitting coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In 2022, he was briefly called up to coach first base for the main Toronto Blue Jays team.
Personal Life
Devon White has a cousin, Jayden Hylton, who also plays baseball.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
