"The Quiet Man. Roy expected to be traded, then was switched to first base in the spring; he played in 148 games, only seven at first. A solid, steady performer in his 12th big league season, Roy is 16th on the all-time Yankee list of games played. Greatly underrated as a defensive player, he made five catches last season that took homers away from the opposition.
Roy was born in Los Angeles but makes his home in the New York area. He credits karate with helping him keep fit in the off-season."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1976 Edition
"Roy White is the only Yankee from the 'post-pennant era' to make his mark among the club's all-time batting leaders. That's really quite an accomplishment, for the players from the championship days had the benefit of great teammates helping them to achieve outstanding statistical records.
As the senior Yankee, how in his 12th season in New York, Roy has earned acclaim from all areas of baseball - the fans, the media and the inner baseball community. As a hitter, he's hit for power, for average, and at the top or in the middle of the batting order. As a runner, he stands fifth on the all-time Yankee stolen base list. As a left fielder, he's made the diving catch and the fence-climbing catch common occurrences. And as a man, the Wayne, New Jersey resident has earned respect from all who have come to know him.
What remains for Roy? The chance to be part of a new championship era, so that his teammates from his early days - Mantle, Maris, Ford, Richardson, Howard, Kubek, Boyer - will now be directly tied to this new era - by means of one man."
-The New York Yankees Official 1976 Yearbook
"Roy is the senior member of the Yankees, and statistically in the top 20 of several all-time Yankee departments, including games (15th), at-bats (15th), runs (16th), doubles (15th), home runs (19th) and stolen bases (5th).
He reclaimed his left field job last year after spending much of 1974 as a designated hitter. He played first base exclusively in spring training but made only a couple of appearances there once the season began. Roy was originally signed as an infielder but was switched to the outfield in 1967 after an option to Spokane, where he hit .343. He's been a regular ever since. He was the first Yankee outfielder to ever field 1.000 for a season, accomplishing the feat in 1971. Roy is recognized as one of the finest left fielders in Yankee history, with his range and fence-climbing abilities almost legendary among Yankee fans.
In 1975, Roy enjoyed his fourth year of .290 or better and his first in four years. He batted .542 at Fenway last year and switch-hit homers there on April 23 and was named Player of the Week; it was the third time he's homered from both sides of the plate in one game, having done it in 1973 against California and in 1970 against Oakland. Roy stole home on June 5 for the fifth time in his career. He also recorded 11 assists, placing him among the leading outfielders in the league.
White played in 388 consecutive games from August 31, 1971 to May 21, 1974. He twice tied for the league lead in games played, tying the Yankee record with 162.
Roy set an American League sacrifice fly record with 17 in 1971. He tied Dick Allen for the league lead in walks in 1972. Twice an American League All-Star, he set a record by switch-hitting triples in one game.
Roy is an accomplished devotee of karate. He also appeared in the motion picture The Premonition, making his acting debut as a physician, and worked for the Yankees' sales department during the off-season.
Roy grew up in Compton, California with such future big leaguers as Reggie Smith, Dave Nelson, the late Don Wilson, Bobby Tolan and Dock Ellis."
-1976 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
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