Blue Jay Monday: 1991 Topps Mark Whiten

Hard hittin' Mark Whiten.  What a great nickname.  It's too bad that he had to try and find a place in an already crowded outfield in Toronto during the early 90's.

Looks oh so happy to have had his picture taken

In 1990, he had George Bell, Mookie Wilson, Junior Felix and Glenallen Hill in front of him in the outfield.  In 1991, it was even worse because the Jays had totally revamped their outfield, and picked up names such as Joe Carter, Devon White, and Candy Maldonado.  Wilson and Hill were still with the club as well, and because of that log jam, Whiten was traded in June of 1991 to the Indians, along with Glenallen Hill and Canadian born pitcher Denis Boucher, for Tom Candiotti and Turner Ward.

Whiten would play a couple of years in Cleveland, a couple of years in St. Louis, then make quick stops in Atlanta, New York (Yankees), Philly, Seattle, and back to Cleveland again. 

The '93 season in St. Louis was Mark's career year, when he would hit 25HR and drive in 99.  Mark would have one great game in that season, September 7, 1993 when he hit 4 HR and had 12 RBI in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.  Mark was the 12th person in MLB history to hit 4 HR in a single game.  Only 4 players have hit 4 HR in a game since then (Mike Cameron, Shawn Green, Carlos Delgado and Josh Hamilton).

Mark certainly had the talent, but for him his career seemed as if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially during his Blue Jay years.

Thanks for reading, Robert