| Matt Whiteside | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1967-08-08)August 8, 1967 (age 58) Sikeston, Missouri, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 5, 1992, for the Texas Rangers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 7, 2005, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 18–15 |
| Earned run average | 5.23 |
| Strikeouts | 259 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Matthew Christopher Whiteside (born August 8, 1967) is an American formerMajor League Baseballpitcher. He graduated fromCharleston High School in Charleston, lettering in baseball,football, andbasketball, in 1986, and then attendedArkansas State, graduating with a degree in physical education. While at Arkansas, Whiteside joinedPi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Standing at 6'2" and weighing 205 pounds, theright-hander was drafted by theTexas Rangers 661st overall, in the 25th round of the1990 draft. Whiteside spent nearly three successful seasons in the minors before making his Major League debut on August 5,1992, at the age of 24. His first appearance came against theOakland Athletics, pitching a perfect inning. In Whiteside's first season in the majors, he made 20 appearances, all in relief inrelief, posting a 1.93ERA andsaving four games.
From1993 to2001, the lowest ERA Whiteside had in a season was 4.08, while the highest was 13.91. Hestarted only one game in his major league career, on July 20,1997. Whiteside pitched four innings, giving up sixhits and fiveearned runs and received a no-decision.
After 13 games in the majors in 2001 with theAtlanta Braves (who picked him up as afree agent), Whiteside bounced around in the minors and international baseball (Yokohama BayStars inJapan in2003) until2005. By that time, he had established himself as a very successfulcloser in the minors, saving 38 games in2004 with theRichmond Braves, making theInternational League All-Star team, and saving 27 games in2005 for theSyracuse SkyChiefs. After the latter showing, Whiteside was called up to the majors for a two-game stint with theToronto Blue Jays. He struggled in that short time—in 32⁄3 innings, he gave up eight earned runs (six hits, threehome runs, fivewalks, onehit batter) for an ERA of 19.64.
On July 15, 2005, Whiteside was suspended for 15 games for violatingminor league baseball's steroid policy.[1] He spent2006 with theIndianapolis Indians, posting a 1.69 ERA in 20 games, collecting 10 saves.
In 1996, he served as a guest judge at theMiss USA Pageant.
· Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet, orBaseball Reference (Minor, Japanese and Winter leagues)