Mark Whiten

Who is Mark Whiten?

Mark Anthony Whiten is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter batter who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees. He became known by the nickname "Hard-Hittin'" Mark Whiten. Whiten was born in Pensacola, Florida. He was selected by Toronto in the 1986 amateur draft and made his major league debut in the '90 season. Whiten was a typical up-and-down player. He had one of the best outfield arms in the 1990s. He hit for power too, but his mental lapses hurt him in the field and at the plate. The Blue Jays had little patience with his development and sent him to Cleveland. After two seasons with the Indians he was sent to the Cardinals.

In his first season with St. Louis Whiten recorded nine outfield assists, fifth-best in the National League. On September 7, 1993, he gained notability with his performance against the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader. Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs, tying the all-time single-game records in both categories in the process. He also tied the NL mark for runs batted in in a doubleheader. Whiten is one of only 16 players in major league baseball history who have hit four home runs in one game, and he and Jim Bottomley are the only two players with 12 RBIs in one game.