Harold S. (Bud) White, Jr., an All-American schoolboy and collegiate swimmer, was an all-star baseball pitcher at every level short of the major leagues — and he may well have made the big top but for four years of WWII military service that short-circuited his promising professional career.
Member of a prominent Auburn sports family, White followed a standout swim-diamond career at Edward Little High School with a heap of honors at Bowdoin College.
where he was an all-state pitcher in 1938 and 1939 and helped Bowdoin to state baseball titles in °36 and °38.
In summer ball, he was an all-star member of the East Auburn team of the Heart of Maine League and also pitched for the famed Worumbo Indians.
The strapping fireballer was signed by the Boston Red Sox and compiled a 38-19 record in three years in the Sox farm system. His best mark was 21-6 for Class B Oneonta as he earned an all-league selection and promotion to Triple-A Louisville = but his ‘army stint prevented him from moving up.
After the war, Bud was baseball coach and athletic director at Thornton Academy, 1946-52.
he was undefeated in schoolboy and collegiate dual competition as a record-breaking freestyle sprinter, posting a slew of records.
He was New England champion for three straight years and record holder at 50, 60 and 100 yards and New England’s outstanding swimmer in 1938, and he was j also a crack javelin thrower at Bowdoin, was state champion in ’38 with a Bowdoin record throw of 186-14.
White was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of fame in 1983 and the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
Bud's son Harold III was also a top pitcher who hurled in the Baltimore Orioles system.
Comments