"He is one of baseball's most highly respected players. He is in the top ten of the all-time Yankee list in many categories, and only Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra and Babe Ruth have played in more games as a Yankee. But Roy White remains one thing above all: he is the epitome of what the pinstripes are all about- pride and tradition.
After waiting out the lean years, Roy knew he would be there when the Yankees returned to the top, and he has been an integral part of that rise. This two-time All-Star led the league in runs scored during 1976, the season the Yanks won their first pennant in 12 years.
In 1978, he made his presence felt all year, but especially during postseason play. He was the only Yankee to hit in all 10 postseason games, batting .333 and scoring 14 runs to lead the Yankees in that latter department. Defensively, he is known for his leaps and diving stabs, and he made only one error all year. He is also the only Yankee outfielder to ever field 1.000 in a season.
Roy White is what is known as a ballplayer's ballplayer. He has done it all, offensively and defensively, and proven himself over the years. And he has done it with class and dignity, in the Yankee tradition."
-The New York Yankees Official 1979 Yearbook
"Roy is the senior member of the Yankee club, joining them in 1965, and is one of baseball's most highly respected players.
He has moved into the top ten of the all-time Yankee lists in many categories. Roy is now fifth in games played by a Yankee with 1,800 ... only Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra and Babe Ruth have played in more, quite impressive company. Roy is sixth in at-bats with 6,445 ... 10th in runs with 940 ... ninth in hits with 1,759 ... 10th in doubles with 294, and second in stolen bases with 231.
Roy was used both in the outfield and as a designated hitter last year, batting .276 in the DH role. He switch-hit home runs in one game for the fifth time last year against Oakland on June 13; only Mickey Mantle and Reggie Smith have done it more. A good clutch hitter, Roy had seven game-winning RBIs last year and batted .295 with men on base. He hit four home runs in five games in June. He missed some time with a pulled right hamstring and a bruised Achilles tendon.
Roy hit safely in all 10 postseason games last year, going 5-15 (.333) in the ALCS and 8-24 (.333) in the World Series. After spending 11 non-winning years with the Yanks, Roy has now been on championship clubs for the last three years.
One of the best left fielders in Yankee history, Roy is noted for his fence climbing heroics, sliding catches and great range. He's the only Yankee outfielder ever to field 1.000 for a season, and he made only one error in 131 chances last year. With the exception of 1974, when he was primarily a designated hitter, 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 switch. He was tried at first base in spring training of 1975 but returned to left field once the season opened.
Roy came alive as a hitter while on option to Spokane in 1967, where hit .343; with that exception, he has always been in the Yankee system. He has had just six multi-homer games in his career, yet five of them have been the switch-hit homer games, and he also once switch-hit triples in the same game. Roy has stolen home six times, and he played in 388 consecutive games from August 31, 1971 to May 21, 1974. He set an American League record for sacrifice flies with 17 in 1971, and led the American League in runs scored in 1976.
Although a consistent player, his longest hitting streak in the majors has been 11 games (1968, 1974). Roy has never hit .300 but has been at .290 or better four times. He has had five hits in a game twice and four in a game 11 times.
Roy was raised in Compton, California with such future big leaguers as Reggie Smith, Dock Ellis, Dave Nelson, Don Wilson and Bobby Tolan. A year round resident of New Jersey, and a polished speaker who attends many functions in the winter, Roy had a bit part in a 1975 motion picture, The Premonition, playing a doctor.
Roy spent several seasons as the Yankee cleanup hitter."
-New York Yankees 1979 Media Guide
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