Minnesota Twins
First Base Coach, Jerry White, was born on August 23,
1952 in Shirley, Massachusetts.He was a 1970 graduate
of George Washington (CA) High School where he played
baseball and football and ran track and cross country.
His quick speed helped him to be All-City in baseball
and track in his senior year. He attended San Francisco
City College where he continued to play baseball. He
was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 14th round
of the 1970 amateur draft.
In 1973, Jerry was third in the minors in stolen bases.
In 1974, he made his major league debut, September 16
vs. New York. In 1975, he had his first major league home
run off Hank Webb vs. New York and was named Expos Player
of the Month. Jerry spent most of his career as a fourth
outfielder and pinch hitter on the Expos. He saw the most
action in 1976, when he hit .245 with career highs of
32 runs and 15 steals.
In 1977, he was third in league in doubles, fourth in
hits and runs, fifth in triples, sixth in batting and
seventh in stolen bases. In 1978, he was traded to the
Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Woody Fryman. In
1980, he had his first career pinch-homer off Al Hrabosky
at Atlanta. In 1981, he started every game of NLCS going
5-16 (.313) including his moment of glory; a three-run
homer off Dodgers Jerry Reuss in game three. Jerry spent
1984 and 1985 in Japan with the Seibu Lions and hit .251
with 37 HR and 113 RBI in 707 at-bats over two seasons.
In 1987, he returned to the United States
and was named the Twins' roving minor league outfield/baserunning
coach. In 1989, he was named the Twins' outfield/baserunning
coach. In 1994, he was named coach for Class A Fort
Myers and in 1995, he filled in for injured Ron Gardenhire
as the Twins' first base coach. In 1996, he moved to
Detroit and was named their first base coach and baserunning
instructor. In 1997, his first full year in the position,
the Tigers led the American League in steals for the
first time since 1934. In 1998, the Twins re-hired him
as their first base coach. He has successfully remained
in that role for the past 7 years.
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