CLETE BOYER - GUEST SPEAKER

It was Sunday, August 5th, about 6:30 PM, Hall of Fame Weekend 2001 in Cooperstown and after a long, hot day sitting in the sun and listening to too many speeches, it was almost time for our SABR meeting to begin. Every year on Induction Day, there is an open SABR meeting that welcomes everyone. It has a long tradition, as SABR was formed in Cooperstown in the early '70s. Each year, the meeting is coordinated by John Zajec from SABR headquarters and held in the village funeral home, Tillapaugh's.

The air-conditioned funeral home was just what we needed. It had been so hot during the day that cold air was the only thing that would get me through this meeting, because it promised to be long. Six presenters were on the agenda. The room began to fill and by 7 PM it was SRO, about 50-60 people. Suddenly, the air didn’t feel so cold anymore!

Rob Edelman led off with his research on "Turkey Mike Donlin," a old-time major leaguer who made his mark in the movie business. Several of his scenes from black and white films were shown, including one that starred John Barrymore and another with James Cagney. Bill Deane was next, providing us with a history of the "hidden ball" trick, citing examples throughout baseball history of its use. About half way through his presentation, a familiar figure appeared in the back of the room. I don't know how many saw him, but I did. Clete Boyer had taken a seat in the back of the room. Dressed in Yankee blue shorts, a blue Yankee T-shirt and wearing Yankee hat, he blended in and could have been another SABR member or curious visitor. Although scheduled to be the sixth presenter, Cliff Kachline decided to move Clete up on the agenda.

Anyway, Cliff asked Clete to come to the front of the room so he could be introduced. As Clete made his way up front, he saw someone wearing a Red Sox hat and without missing a step, casually knocked it off the surprised wearer's head! He was in rare form this evening! First thing he talks about is his family. He is proud of his humble beginnings and it is apparent that family is still important to him.

He talked about some memorable World Series. During the 1960 WS, he was moved to short stop and Gil McDougald was moved to third base. We all had heard so much already all weekend about the 1960 WS, with Maz's induction earlier in the day. But Clete put it in perspective for us: "I saw Mantle crying and thought maybe I should be crying too. Gee, I was happy just not to be the goat!" Was he being self-centered? Of course not; Clete was being honest. Heck, he was new to the Yankees and all their tradition. After all, he was only 23 years old at the time. He was happy just to be on the field and didn't have any illusions of being a hero – he just didn't want to be the goat.

The 1961 WS against Cincinnati? "That was my Series," and that was all he said about it. Someone brought up the movie 61* and Clete said, "Look. The fans did not get on Roger the way they did in the movie. And something else; do you think Mickey would actually move to Queens when he had a room at the St. Moritz?"

I was amazed at Clete's command of the details surrounding games that were played 40 years ago! For example, he shared a typical Clete Boyer story from the seventh game of the 1962 WS. They were playing the Giants and Ralph Terry was pitching. The situation called for an intentional walk to Willie McCovey. On deck was Orlando Cepeda and in Clete's words, "I just knew Cepeda would rake one off my knees. Then I'll be the goat." Manager Ralph Houk walks to the mound; Clete joins him and Terry. Houk tells Terry to walk McCovey; Terry says no. "I near slapped him on the back! I didn’t care if McCovey hit a home run; I didn't want to be the goat!" Don’t forget, Yankee tradition – all the pressure – Clete was still only 25 years old.

There was no hesitation when asked what his greatest thrill in the majors was – playing against his brother Ken in the 1964 WS. Ken hit a home run and although he was the opposition, Clete said in his heart he was happy because his knew he mother would be proud. In the 7th game, both he and Ken hit a home run and "You could feel what your mother felt. It was a family thing". He said they interviewed his father, who said he was "pulling for the third baseman."

Playing with Hank Aaron in Atlanta was another thrill Clete shared with us. Although he considered playing in Japan a thrill and an adventure, he made it clear that he weighed 201 lbs when he went there, and returned to the states weighing 178 lbs; indicating he was less than thrilled with the food there. (Could that be why he owns a down-to-earth restaurant in Cooperstown that serves All-American food?)

Other Observations by Clete:

"I am a 64 year old man who people know and pay attention to because I played baseball…and with the Yankees."

"I tried that the first year I was with the Yanks", noting Bill Deane's earlier presentation on the history of the "hidden ball trick" in baseball. "I didn't get the guy. Frank Crosetti (the Yankees long time third base coach) talked with me in the dugout – 'We don't do that here.'" Then Clete asked us "Do you ever see the Yankees try the hidden ball trick?"

"Three greatest players I ever saw were: Mickey, Aaron, and Mays; Frank Robinson was a great player, too"

"Jeter is a great player but he had a lot of errors this year; must be too much money in his pockets! I coached him in 1995 and helped him with his throws. Don't you think he ought to throw me a chicken bone now?"

"I taught Boggs how to go to his right. He won a Gold Glove 2 of the 3 years I coached him." Then he said something about the Red Sox not being able to teach Boggs how to field.

Clete brought a photo of the '63-'64 Yankee infield autographed by all four position players, "...the greatest infield; Pepitone was a close second to Mattingly as a fielder." He was donating the item to be auctioned that evening with proceeds going to the chapter. "Damn, don't start at $10 either. That should go for about $400". Cliff asked Clete to stick around for some Q&A, and in typical Clete style, he made some off hand comments about St. Louis and The Sporting News (knowing that would rile Cliff a bit).

Knowing Clete was going to sign autographs soon in the outer lobby of the funeral home, I decided to make my way back there now before everyone got up at the same time. As I made my way to the back, I could hear laughter in the room as Clete must obviously have still been telling some wild ones! I helped myself to some punch when my friend Scott, who also already had moved to the outer lobby, asked "Aren't you going to say hello to Goose?" As I turned my head, there seated in a large Victorian chair was Goose Gossage. I approached him and said one of my not-too-smart comments that I tend to say when in the presence of one of my idols, "Hi, Goose. Good to see you again." Like he remembered that he had signed an autograph for me over a year ago. Anyway, he was waiting there for Clete as they planned to eat at Clete's place after Clete was through here. I did make sure I gave him the Diamond Angle web site address to check out.

Clete made his way to the outer lobby and began to sign photos he had brought – for free. I had him sign his 1957 Topps Rookie card I had bought just several days before. "This is your rookie card" – another golden gem from me! I told him Scott and I had been to his place several weeks earlier but we missed him. "I was in New York for Old Timer’s Game." Then I sat in a chair and listened as he signed and talked to his fans.

After he finished signing, I walked back into the meeting room with him, making a pitch for an interview or what I really hoped for, a book. He asked why he should consider having me write a book when he has refused others many times before. I told him I would write about Clete Boyer the person, not just the ball player; about his love for family and friends. Not wanting to tell me to "bug off," Clete smiled at me and said "Let's get on with this auction". Bidding began and seemed to be going slowly until from the back of the room, a bidder yelled out "$80!" It was Clete "I know what this thing is worth." The photo went for $100. As he left to join his buddy Goose, I called out to him that I wasn't discouraged by his refusals to prior requests from potential biographers; I would follow-up with him. I'm sure that was just what he wanted to hear before he said down to a nice meal – the desperate ravings of a stalking biographer!

The balance of the meeting featured Bruce Markesun, Manager of Program Presentations, Baseball Hall of Fame, who spoke about the first all-black starting lineup fielded by the 1971 Pirates (which featured Dave Cash, a native of my hometome, Utica, NY). George Case III, Executive Director of SABR, who shared with us a portion of a tape made from his father’s "home movies." His father, George Case Jr. played ML ball during the '30s and '40s and was given 8 mm color film, which was rare at that time, by the Eastman Kodak company to use. Some of the players captured in their most natural surroundings are: Stratton, Williams, Grove, Foxx, Cronin, Doerr, DiMaggio, Dickey. 3) Morris Eckhouse, who played a sample of his broadcast re-creation of game five of the 1920 World Series. Since the game was never actually broadcast, he and a partner used press releases and box scores to make it authentic. They also added during and between inning discussions about current topics that might have been discussed had the game actually been broadcast. Quite a novel way to end the evening.