Whitey Platt
Encyclopedia
Mizell George "Whitey" Platt (August 21, 1920 in West Palm Beach, Florida
, USA - July 27, 1970 in West Palm Beach, Florida) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
outfielder who played from 1942 to 1943 for the Chicago Cubs
, in 1946 for the Chicago White Sox
and from 1948 to 1949 for the St. Louis Browns.
Prior to playing professionally, Platt attended Palm Beach High School.
He made his major league debut on September 16, 1942. He played in four games that season, collecting one hit in 16 at-bats for a .063 batting average. In 1943, he hit .171 in 41 at-bats, with three of his seven hits being doubles.
He missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving with the United States Navy
in the Pacific Theatre
of World War II
.
Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Cubs on April 20, 1946, Platt played in 84 games that year, hitting .251 with three home runs and 32 RBI in 247 at-bats. He next played in the major leagues in 1948, hitting .271 with seven home runs and 81 RBI in 123 games with the St. Louis Browns. In 1949, his final season, he hit .258 with three home runs and 29 RBI in 102 games. He played his final game on October 2, 1949.
He also played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, hitting .299 with 1,378 hits, 274 doubles, 44 triples and 95 home runs. Perhaps his best season was in 1942, when he hit .349 with 40 doubles, six triples and nine home runs.
In 1953, he managed the West Palm Beach Indians
for the beginning of the season, being replaced eventually by Bubba Harris
.
Following his death, he was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, Florida.
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, USA - July 27, 1970 in West Palm Beach, Florida) was a right-handed Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder who played from 1942 to 1943 for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, in 1946 for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and from 1948 to 1949 for the St. Louis Browns.
Prior to playing professionally, Platt attended Palm Beach High School.
He made his major league debut on September 16, 1942. He played in four games that season, collecting one hit in 16 at-bats for a .063 batting average. In 1943, he hit .171 in 41 at-bats, with three of his seven hits being doubles.
He missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons while serving with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the Pacific Theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Cubs on April 20, 1946, Platt played in 84 games that year, hitting .251 with three home runs and 32 RBI in 247 at-bats. He next played in the major leagues in 1948, hitting .271 with seven home runs and 81 RBI in 123 games with the St. Louis Browns. In 1949, his final season, he hit .258 with three home runs and 29 RBI in 102 games. He played his final game on October 2, 1949.
He also played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, hitting .299 with 1,378 hits, 274 doubles, 44 triples and 95 home runs. Perhaps his best season was in 1942, when he hit .349 with 40 doubles, six triples and nine home runs.
In 1953, he managed the West Palm Beach Indians
West Palm Beach Indians
The West Palm Beach Indians were a minor league baseball team based in West Palm Beach, Florida. They played in the Florida East Coast League in from 1940 to 1942, the Florida International League from 1946 to 1954, and the Florida State League in 1955. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia...
for the beginning of the season, being replaced eventually by Bubba Harris
Bubba Harris (baseball)
Charles "Bubba" Harris is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1948 to 1949 and in 1951, and the Cleveland Indians in 1951....
.
Following his death, he was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in West Palm Beach, Florida.