Mack Whitaker

Mack Whitaker’s athletic career in baseball and basketball started at Marshall County High School in 1953. Mack played guard on the basketball team earning All-County for the 1955-56 and 1956-57 seasons.

Baseball was the sport that propelled him to all-star status and a college scholarship. Whitaker was selected as an All-Star by the Lions Clubs in 1957. Auburn University next offered the star pitcher/outfielder and guard the opportunity to play more baseball and basketball.

Mack played for coaches Joel Eaves and Bill Lynn in basketball. Eaves’ name today is found as part of Auburn’s Beard-Eaves Coliseum. “Erk” Russell coached him in baseball. He lettered four years and earned a three-year varsity starting position in baseball. Coaches Eaves and Russell later move to the University of Georgia - Eaves as the athletic director and Russell as the longtime defensive head coach for Vince Dooley. Assistant coach Lynn became the Auburn head basketball coach replacing Eaves.

Whitaker was joined as a freshman in basketball and baseball by Porter Gilbert of Geraldine and Don Fuell of Guntersville. Fuell, as a freshman, played football, basketball and baseball before transferring to Southern Mississippi. Years later, Fuell, a Hall of Famer himself, nominated Whitaker for the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.

Following his freshman year, Mack turned to baseball as his only sport. The southpaw from Guntersville was the winning pitcher in his first game as a college player. He pitched over seven innings against Alabama and was credited with a win for Auburn.

His senior season in 1961 found the Auburn Tigers finishing second in the Southeastern Conference. The LSU Tigers led one game to none in the best of three series. Mack Whitaker, in game two, pitched 11 2/3 innings. He was lifted with the score tied and a man on second. The first pitch from the relief pitcher allowed a hit that bounced off the shoulder of the centerfielder scoring the runner from second.

Some of the famous names in Auburn sports history who were his teammates include Lloyd Nix, Jack Burkett, Rex Frederick, Morris Savage and Porter Gilbert.

His independent baseball career with the Guntersville Redbirds lasted from 1956 until the mid ‘70’s. He was a Redbird when they played in the national tournament in Wichita, Kansas, in 1962. It was the only national appearance for an independent team from here. At home in Guntersville he has assisted the high school team and recreation department baseball.

Success in sports and business has led to many leadership roles for Mack Whitaker --- 18 years on the Board of David Lipscomb University, 28 years as a church elder and 29 years as a bank director. Today in retirement he enjoys watching his grandchildren, nephews and nieces compete in Wildcat and college sports.