36. Will White

We are going to need a history lesson to start off this one.

Will White was a member of the original Cincinnati Reds in the National League and played there for three seasons before the team was expelled from the NL because its owner refused to stop selling beer.  White would sign with the Detroit Wolverines for a year but returned to Cincinnati when they got a team in the American Association in 1881 (Cincinnati Red Stockings).  That team evolved into the Reds, and the original Reds are not part of the canon that is recognized by Major League Baseball; his accomplishments as a Red do not count, but as a Red Stocking do. 

Got it?

Let’s move on!

As one of the first bespectacled players of note, White would promptly lead the AA in Wins in his first two seasons as a Red Stocking, which was also complemented by an ERA Title.  His tally in Cincinnati (again, only the second version) saw him with an outstanding .663 Winning Percentage of .663 (136-69).  He also completed 204 of his 208 Starts with a WHIP of 1.096.  Not bad for someone who looked like he was an old school accountant!

Cincinnati inducted White into its Hall of Fame in 2004.