Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Whisenant stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) (188 cm), weighed 200 pounds (91 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.

Playing the percentages, the White Sox brought in a right-handed hurler (Gerry Staley) to counter the move, whereupon Whisenant returned to the bench without hitting, to be replaced by a left-handed pinch hitter, Tito Francona.

After returning to the Reds as a spare outfielder for three months, he was taken off the active list August 18 and then served as a Cincinnati coach under Fred Hutchinson for the latter weeks of the 1961 season through 1962.

Then, after almost two decades away from baseball, Whisenant managed in the Oakland Athletics farm system in 1982–83; his Modesto A's won 94 games and the 1982 California League championship.

[5] The Clinic took place at Charlotte High School and attracted well-known big league players as instructors, including Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Mickey Mantle, Tommy Helms, Clay Carroll, Wayne Garrett, Don Zimmer, and Dave Bristol.