Frank White

Eight-time Gold Glove second baseman who spent all 18 seasons in Kansas City.

Frank White is a former second baseman who played his entire eighteen-year major league career with the Kansas City Royals, from 1973 to 1990, and helped win the 1985 World Series. Ranked among the finest defensive second basemen of his time, he won eight Gold Glove Awards, the first American League second baseman to reach that total, and made five All-Star teams. He was MVP of the 1980 American League Championship Series. The Royals retired his number 20 in 1995 and put him in the team Hall of Fame. He later coached, broadcast games and served as Jackson County Executive.

Quick Facts

Position: Second baseman
Bats: Right
Born: 4 September 1950
Birthplace: Greenville, Mississippi, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: June 12
Debut year: 1973
Debut team: Kansas City Royals

Facts from the source article.

Background

White was born on September 4, 1950, in Greenville, Mississippi. He attended Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, Missouri, and was one of just three big leaguers, with Ron Washington and U L Washington, to come out of the Royals Academy. He climbed the farm system through the Gulf Coast League Royals, San Jose Bees, Jacksonville Suns and Omaha Royals. Fans were cool to him at first because he replaced the popular Cookie Rojas at second base. He won them over, and he and George Brett set a major-league mark by playing 1,914 games together, a record that lasted until 1995.

Did You Know?

His solo home run off Mike Scott decided the 1986 All-Star Game, a 3–2 American League win.
He managed the Wichita Wranglers for three years before joining the Royals front office.
He was elected Jackson County Executive in a 2016 special election and re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
He now coaches first base for the Kansas City Monarchs.