Lou Clinton

Luciean Louis Clinton (October 13, 1937 – December 6, 1997) was a Major League Baseball outfielder who batted and threw right-handed, spanning 8 seasons, debuting in 1960 and playing his final season in 1967, during which he played for five American League teams in the 1960s: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles/California Angels, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. He was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Clinton died at age 60 in Wichita, Kansas, and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.

Clinton was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1955 season. He made his major league debut in 1960, and spent five seasons with the Red Sox. On June 4, 1964, he was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Angels for Lee Thomas. After a season and a half with the Angels, Clinton was selected off waivers by the Kansas City Athletics on September 7, 1965. Two days later, he was returned to the Angels, then was picked up by the Cleveland Indians. He finished the season with them, and on January 14, 1966 he traded to the New York Yankees for Doc Edwards. Clinton played two seasons for the Yankees, which ended his major league career.

After being demoted by the Yankees in April, Clinton finished up his professional career with the San Diego Padres, hitting .250 for them in 110 games.

Trivia

• August 9, 1960 Cleveland Indian's Power's hit ricochets off the top of the RF fence in Cleveland toward Lou Clinton. The ball hits Clinton's foot and is "kicked" over the fence. Umpire Alaric Smith rules the hit a home run, since the ball never touched the ground.
• July 13, 1962 In Kansas City, the Boston Red Sox outlast the Kansas City Athletics, 11–10, in 15 innings. Boston collects 21 hits to KC's 20. Lou Clinton wins the marathon with an RBI single and adds the cycle as he goes 5-for-7.
• In 1963, the first baseman for the Red Sox, Dick Stuart, batted clean up, and Lou Clinton batted fifth. Every single time Stuart struck out with less than one out and runners in scoring position, Clinton would also strike out. Clinton hit very well that year when Stuart did not strike out in front of him with runners in scoring position.

See also

• Hitting for the cycle

References

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Baseball-almanac.com
• Boxscore of his first game