Rick White: 2000 N.L. Champion Mets Relief Pitcher (2000-2001)
Richard Allen White was born December 23, 1968, in Springfield, Ohio. The tall 6’ 4” right hander was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round of the 1990 draft. He began his career as a starter as well as a reliever going 4-5 with six saves in his 1994 rookie season, posting a 3.82 ERA. After two seasons he began moving around and became strictly a reliever throwing a good fast ball, slider & forkball. He would go on to play twelve seasons for twelve different teams mostly used as a middleman. The journeyman pitched for Pittsburgh (1994-1995) & Tampa (1996-1997).
BP Collision: In Tampa the big guy was involved in a batting practice collision with Jim Mercir while chasing a fly ball. White was fine, but Mercir hurt his elbow and missed the rest of the season.
During the summer of 2000 as the New York Mets were on their way to contend for the pennant but wanted to secure up their bullpen.
The Rays were looking for some talent & promoted Tyner by having Jason Tyner bobble head night, but by the time the night arrived he was sent down to the minors. White arrived in New York having gone 0-3 lifetime in his career against the Mets.
In his first game at Shea Stadium, he got the win, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3, while pitching a perfect 8th inning, with two strikeouts. A week later he earned a three inning save against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Overall, he would go 2-3 with a save and a 3.81 ERA, appearing in 22 games for Bobby Valentine.
2000 NLCS: He made two appearances in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals allowing a run in two innings pitched.
2000 World Series: In the 2000 Subway World Series he made one appearance, coming in the 8th inning of Game 32. He got the first out, then gave up a double to Derek Jeter. He git David Justice to ground out then intentionally walked Bernie Williams. He was relieved by Dennis Cook who then gave up a base hit, with the run charged to White.
He did not make any other World Series appearances.
After the Pennant: In 2001 he had a busy middle of June, getting credit for two wins, both one inning outings. The first against the Montreal Expos at Shea & second at Chicago in Wrigley Field, against the Cubs a week later.
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He would also take a loss against the Braves allowing six earned runs in a nightmare of an inning at Shea Stadium on June 23rd. Also in the month he earned his first save if the year while pitching three scoreless innings in Baltimore in an inter league game against the Orioles.
Another busy month was August when he went 1-4, including blowing a game in San Diego where he allowed two runs in the 7th inning. Overall he made 55 appearances going 4-5 with ten holds, earning two saves, posting a 3.88 ERA.
In the off season the Mets chose not to resign him for 2002.
Post Mets Career: The journeyman went to the Colorado Rockies but was released in August. He was then picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals Going 3-1 in 20 appearances posting a 0.82 ERA.
2002 Post Season: He got to his second post season that year, making two appearances in the NLDS win over Arizona with two scoreless innings. In the NLCS loss to the San Francisco Giants White appeared in three games. He took the loss in Game #3 giving up an 8th inning HR to veteran Benito Santiago.White was granted free agency, then pitched for the Chicago White Sox & Houston Astros in 2003. He went to the Cleveland Indians (2004) Pittsburgh Pirates (2005) Cincinnati Reds & Philadelphia Phillies (2006) then back to Houston & onto Seattle (2007).
Career Stats: In his 12-year career he itched for eleven different teams. White was 42-54 posting a 4.45 ERA with 16 saves in 613 appearances, striking out 542 batters while walking 289 in 858 innings pitched.
Retirement: After his playing days he became a coach. He coached at Clark State University in Vancouver, Washington.
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