Ernie Whitt was one of the most popular players in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays. His development from a marginal prospect into an All-Star backstop paralleled the Blue Jays' development from a hapless expansion team into a pennant contender. Taken by the Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft, Whitt ended up with the longest tenure of any Blue Jay selected. Only Jim Fregosi played more games with the team that selected him than Whitt.
A good defensive catcher and handler of pitchers, Whitt was platooned through most
of his career. He became a pull hitter with power, and hit three of the Blue Jays'
major league record ten home runs against Baltimore on September 14, 1987.
Whitt's injury while trying to break up a double play in the final week of the 1987 season was an important factor in the AL East pennant race. Playing without Whitt, a Michigan native who had played some of his best ball at Tiger Stadium, Toronto lost the pennant to Detroit on the final weekend of the season.
(TF/GL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 14, 1987: In an 18–3 rout of the Orioles, the Blue Jays erupt for a ML-record 10 home runs. Ernie Whitt leads the parade with three round trippers, Rance Mulliniks and George Bell hit 2, and Lloyd Moseby, Rob Ducey, and Fred McGriff each add one. Mike Hart hits one for Baltimore to tie the 2-team major-league record of 11. In the 7th inning, the Jays Kelly Gruber makes an out and, in his next at bat in the frame, hits into a DP tie a major-league record for most outs-inning. Cal Ripken's streak of 8,243 consecutive innings (908 games) is broken when he is lifted in the 8th for pinch runner Ron Washington.
»June 7, 1989: Ernie Whitt has three hits and drives in three runs as the Blue Jays beat the Brewers, 4–2, in the first game ever played indoors and outdoors in the same day. With dark clouds threatening the roof begins closing in the 5th inning. The closing operation begins at 8:48 p.m. and ends at 9:22 p.m., too late to prevent a brief stoppage of play due to rain.
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