Nick Willhite Explained

Nick Willhite
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:27 January 1941
Birth Place:Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Death Place:Alpine, Utah, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 16
Debutyear:1963
Debutteam:Los Angeles Dodgers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:June 23
Finalyear:1967
Finalteam:New York Mets
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:6–12
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.55
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:118
Teams:

Jon Nicholas Willhite (January 27, 1941 – December 14, 2008) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Willhite grew up in Denver, Colorado and graduated from South High School in 1959. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 and was called up to Major League Baseball in 1963 and pitched from 1963 to 1967 for the Dodgers, Washington Senators, California Angels and New York Mets.

Willhite was with the Dodgers when they won the 1965 World Series, but he did not pitch in the series. He was out of baseball by age 26, with an overall record of 6–12 and a 4.55 ERA.

Willhite later worked as a pitching coach at Brigham Young University and in the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees organizations.

Willhite was an alcoholic by the time he was 22 years old[1] and was sometimes drunk on the field.[2] Willhite was married and divorced three times and later became addicted to drugs as well as alcohol. In 1989, he hit rock bottom after selling his World Series ring. He then reached out to another former Dodger pitcher, Stan Williams, for help. He ultimately received that help from the Baseball Assistance Team, which assists former baseball players in need. Willhite entered a treatment center in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1989 and later became an addictions counselor after graduating from the University of Utah.

Willhite died of cancer at his son's home in Alpine, Utah.[3]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Cohn . Bob . A save beyond measure . 29 May 2024 . . 28 July 1991 . 241.
  2. News: Hudson . Bob . Former big leaguer rebuilds life; now helping others do the same . 29 May 2024 . . 30 May 1992 . B7.
  3. Web site: Former Dodgers pitcher Willhite dies . December 19, 2008 . Associated Press . December 19, 2008 . sportingnews.com .