1975 Profile: Roy White

"Roy White can do so many things for a ball club, he might be one of the game's most versatile performers. He has rolled up a most distinguished list of accomplishments during his ten-season career as a Yankee, and for many of those seasons, was almost alone in producing an offense for New York.
Now he is surrounded by a cast of fine hitters - a cast better able to help Roy see his first World Series. He is a man who can run, switch-hit, hit for power, steal bases, catch almost any ball hit to left, and move runners. He spent last season as a designated hitter and left fielder, and while his playing time was down somewhat with the arrivals of Lou Piniella and Elliott Maddox, his worth was felt every time he was in a game.
At 31, the Wayne, New Jersey resident remains one of the class members of the Yankees."

-The New York Yankees Official 1975 Yearbook

"Roy was one of the major contributors to the Yankee cause in 1974, although much of his duty came as a designated hitter. He filled that role 53 times for New York, while playing the outfield in 67 games. Roy led the club with 15 stolen bases, advancing himself to fifth place on the all-time Yankee list.
Among his other big-league accomplishments are two All-Star selections; switch-hitting triples in one game (a record); switch-hitting homers twice; setting an American League record with 17 sacrifice flies in one season (1971); becoming the first Yankee outfielder to field 1.000 in a season (1971); running up a 388-consecutive game playing streak (8/31/71 - 5/21/74); hitting .290 or better for three straight seasons, and currently standing 20th on the all-time Yankee home run chart with 109.
As an outfielder, Roy covers a lot of territory with a sure glove. As a baserunner, he's quick and has good sense. As a hitter, he chokes up but can still hit with power - he served several years as the team's cleanup hitter. Originally an infielder, Roy was moved to the outfield in 1967.
He has been a local resident for several years, distinguishing himself in the community with personal appearances. He grew up in Compton, California, playing with such future big leaguers as Reggie Smith, Dave Nelson, the late Don Wilson, Paul Schaal, Bobby Tolan and Dock Ellis.
Roy practices karate."

-1975 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

VIRDON LAUDS WHITE
"Roy White, having adjusted to first base as well as seeing continued action in left field, might be, according Bill Virdon 'the best leadoff man in baseball.' Virdon acknowledges that Pete Rose has more of a following for the honor, but Bill sees little in Rose that Roy hasn't done for the Yankees. The Yanks surge following a slow start this year was in large measure due to White's return to the lineup."

-1975 New York Yankees Scorecard & Official Magazine