Mark Whiten
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Mark Anthony Whiten (b. November 25, 1966) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter batter who played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1990-91), Cleveland Indians (1991-92, 1998-2000), St. Louis Cardinals (1993-94), Boston Red Sox (1995), Philadelphia Phillies (1996), Atlanta Braves (1996), Seattle Mariners (1996) and New York Yankees (1997). He was sometimes referred to by the moniker Hard Hittin' Mark Whiten.
Whiten was born in Pensacola, Florida. He was selected by Toronto in the 1986 amateur draft and made his debut in the '90 season. Whiten was a typical up-and-down player. He had one of the best outfield arm in the 1990s. He hit for power too, but his mental lapses hurt him in the field and at the plate. The Blue Jays had little patience with his development and sent him to Cleveland. After two seasons with the Indians he was sent to the Cardinals.
In his first season with St. Louis Whiten threw out nine runners, fifth-best in the National League. On September 7, 1993, he gained notoriety with his performance against the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs to tie an all-time single-game record. He also tied NL mark for runs batted in in a doubleheader (13). The same season he belted a 464-foot homer into upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium (August 11), becoming the first visiting player to reach right-field overhang.
Whiten suffered a pulled rib-cage muscles early at the '94 season that limited him to play in 92 games. After that his career faded. The following six seasons he played for several teams, including a second stint with Cleveland.
In his 11-year major league career, Whiten had a .259 batting average, with 105 home runs, 423 RBI, 465 runs scored, 804 hits, 129 doubles, 20 triples, and 70 stolen bases in 939 games. He resumed his playing career with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League.
See also
External links
- Complete career statistics at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/whitema01.shtml)
- Page at Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/W/Whiten_Mark.stm)