"The quiet man. This steady, reliable performer had his finest all-around season in his 13th year as a Yankee. Roy led the league in runs scored and had a career high of 31 stolen bases.
Born in Los Angeles, he lives in the New York area. Roy moved up on the all-time Yankee lists to 10th in games played, 11th in at-bats, 13th in runs, 12th in hits, 13th in doubles, 19th in homers, 16th in RBI and number two in steals."
-Phil Pepe, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1977 Edition
"Roy White finally made the World Series. The senior member of the Yankees (this is his 13th season) has been noted for his consistency. Consistent hitting, base stealing, fielding and durability have marked his career, as well as never having played for a pennant winner.
But 1976 changed all that and no one was happier or more excited than White when the Yankees captured the American League flag. He maintained his steady play all year and led the league in runs scored while moving into second place in all-time Yankee stolen bases.
There is, however, much more to Roy White than his baseball prowess. He is held in high esteem by the fans, the media (New York Baseball Writers and Press Photographers each voted him their 1976 Good Guy Award), teammates and opponents alike. Roy makes his home in the metropolitan area and is a favorite on the after-dinner circuit as a speaker.
Only one goal remains for one of baseball's most highly respected players - to be part of the team that places the 21st World Championship flag in Yankee Stadium."
-The New York Yankees Official 1977 Yearbook
"Roy White, the most senior member of the Yankees, is one of baseball's most highly respected players. He's a model of consistency, year after year, who finally played for a pennant winner in his 12th major league season.
One of the best left fielders in Yankee history, he's known for his fence climbing heroics and great range. He's the only Yankee outfielder to field 1.000 for a season, accomplishing the feat in 1971.
The number two man, all-time, on the Yankee stolen base list, Roy joined some immortal names last year when he moved into the top ten among Yankees in games played. He played in 388 consecutive games from August 31, 1971 to May 21, 1974.
In 1974, he was primarily a DH, but left field has been his spot since he reached the majors. Roy was originally signed as a second baseman, but Bobby Richardson's presence brought about the change.
He came alive with the bat while on option to Spokane in 1967, hitting .343. He spent several seasons as the Yankee cleanup hitter. Roy has had five hits in a game twice in his career, but has never gone 5-for-5, and has had four hits in a game 10 times.
Roy has switch-hit home runs in a game four times; ironically, he's had only five multi-homer games in his career. He also switch-hit triples in a game once and has stolen home five times. Roy set an American League sacrifice fly record with 17 in 1971 and led the league in runs scored last year. Twice an All-Star, he's never hit .300 but has been at .290 or better four times.
Roy was raised in Compton, California with such future big leaguers as Reggie Smith, Dock Ellis, Dave Nelson, Don Wilson and Bobby Tolan. Now a year round resident of New Jersey and an accomplished speaker, he had a bit part in the motion picture 'The Premonition' in 1974.
He seldom shows emotion on the field, but made an exception last August 22 when his home run capped an eight-run ninth inning as the Yankees tied the score with California."
-1977 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide
ROY WHITE CLIMBS ALL-TIME YANKEE LISTS
"Roy White, who moved into the top 10 on the all-time Yankee list for games played last year, has a chance to crack the top 10 in at-bats, hits and doubles this season. Roy needs 269 at-bats to pass Earle Combs for tenth place, 51 hits will move Roy past Wally Pipp into 10th place on the hit list and 14 doubles will push Roy over Tommy Henrich into tenth on the double list."
-1977 New York Yankees Scorebook & Official Magazine
ROY WHITE CLIMBS YANKEE LISTS IN '77
"The Yankees' elder statesman, ageless Roy White, spent the summer moving into some pretty good company. Roy moved into the Yankee top ten in many offensive categories during the season. He now stands in the top ten in games, at-bats, hits, stolen bases and doubles.
Quite a list of accomplishments for this fine gentleman, who finally played for a pennant winner in his 12th Yankee season last year."
-1977 World Series Official Program
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