Mark Whiten facts for kids

Mark Anthony Whiten (born November 25, 1966) is a former American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and could hit from both sides of the plate (a switch-hitter). Mark played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Yankees. People knew him by the nickname "Hard-Hittin'" Mark Whiten. In 1993, he made history by hitting four home runs in one game. He also tied the record for the most runs batted in (RBI) in a single game with 12.

Early Life and Baseball Start

Mark Whiten was born in Pensacola, Florida. He did not play competitive baseball until his last year at Pensacola High School. Even so, he earned a scholarship to play baseball at Pensacola State College.

Major League Baseball Career

Playing for the Blue Jays and Indians

The Toronto Blue Jays picked Mark in the 1986 amateur draft. He made his first appearance in the major leagues in 1990. Mark was known for his powerful hitting and one of the best outfield arms in the 1990s. He played two seasons with the Cleveland Indians after leaving the Blue Jays.

Time with the St. Louis Cardinals

In 1993, Mark joined the St. Louis Cardinals. He quickly became famous for an amazing game on September 7, 1993. In that game against the Cincinnati Reds, Mark hit four home runs! He also drove in 12 runs. This tied the all-time records for both categories in a single game. Mark became only the 12th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. He and Jim Bottomley are the only two players to have 12 RBI in one game.

That same year, he hit a huge 464-foot home run. It landed in the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium. He was the first visiting player to hit a ball that far. Mark finished that season with a .253 batting average. He also had 25 home runs and 99 RBI.

Later Career and Achievements

Injuries limited Mark's playing time in later seasons. Over six years, he played for six different teams. He even returned to the Cleveland Indians for a second time. On July 31, 1998, Mark even pitched one inning for the Indians. He struck out three batters in that inning!

In his 11 years in Major League Baseball, Mark Whiten played 939 games. He had a .259 batting average. He also hit 105 home runs and had 423 RBI. Mark scored 465 runs and had 804 hits. He also had 70 stolen bases. After his MLB career, he continued to play baseball for the Long Island Ducks.