copyright=new Date(); Born: Clydes mid-90s fastball was already major-league caliber, leading to immediate speculation that he could skip the minor leagues and make the highly unusual leap from high school to The Show. Throw it hard.' His season ended with a 3-4 record and 5.91 ERA. Clyde spent the winter working out in Houston and went to spring training poised for a homecoming. With the Rangers 33 1/2 games out of first place in the AL West, carrying a 47-91 record, first-year manager Whitey Herzog was fired and Billy Martin was hired. Clyde struggled with his command, resulting in a move to the bullpen as the season wore on. [11] Prior to Clyde's debut, the highest crowd in Rangers history was 24,000. [8] He started one game in 1975 (a loss) before injuring his shoulder and was demoted to the Pittsfield Rangers of the Eastern League. As expected, the Rangers selected him with the first overall pick, passing over the likes of Robin Yount and Dave Winfield. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 11:02PM. 1 overall by the Texas Rangers on June 5, 1973, out of. Traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1978, he was 8-11 and then 3-4 before he damaged a rotator cuff. [1] He played football and baseball at Westchester High School in Houston where he became known as a perfectionist and was an excellent student. 42 Bob Nold, Tribe Faith in Clyde Rewarded, Akron Beacon Journal, May 17, 1978: 45. . [2] His dominance at the high school level attracted the attention of many MLB team scouts, many of whom billed Clyde as the "next Sandy Koufax" and others called him the "best pitching prospect they had ever seen". Watching from the opposing dugout, Herzog observed that Clyde was throwing as hard as he did as a rookie.46 Clyde displayed improved control, as evidenced by a career-best 2.6 walks per nine innings, but he failed to find consistency, allowing five runs or more in four of his eight starts. SUMMARY Career WAR 0.6 W 18 L Another 10,000 were reportedly turned away.16 Belly dancers, lion cubs, and a large papier-mch giraffe brought in from nearby theme parks added to the circus-like atmosphere. "We went from one paycheck to the next.". Martin wanted to send him to Spokane for two starts to build his confidence, but new team president Dr. Bobby Brown overruled him.29 Instead, Martin kept Clyde on the bench for 10 days. I retired, though I think I could have made it back to the majors. When Clyde stepped away from baseball, he was 37 days away from four years of service timethe threshold required at the time to qualify for Major League Baseballs pension plan and health insurance benefits. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. If I were going through that now, I'd kick the door in and demand an explanation. As the No. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ClydeDavid2.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/s/2003/0529/1560431.html, https://theathletic.com/766944/2019/01/31/david-clyde-kept-baseball-in-arlington-and-missed-an-mlb-pension-by-37-days-does-the-sport-owe-him-anything/. ''It's nice to be remembered,'' Clyde said over the phone from his home in Tomball last week. The Rangers planned to have Clyde pitch his first two professional games in the major leagues before moving him down to the minor leagues,[1] but Rangers owner Bob Short decided to keep him in the roster for monetary purposes, where he had a 5.01 earned run average in 18 starts. As Herzog bluntly wrote in his memoir White Rat, Bob Short was a fast-buck artist, a man who would do anything for a buck, a man who never had a long-term plan in his life. David Clyde burst into the big leagues as one of the most heralded pitching prospects of all-time. David Clyde played for 2 teams; the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians. By then, Martin had been replaced by Frank Lucchesi. His career would stretch over parts of five big-league seasons, with Texas from 1973-75 and Cleveland in 1978-79. statistics (plate appearances & times on bases) not found (Age 24-107d) Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The White Sox did not record a hit until Bill Meltons leadoff single in the top of the fifth. I agreed to pitch Clyde two games, then farm him out to the minors, where he could build his arm and confidence over a couple of years, wrote Herzog in Youre Missin a Great Game.14. [2], Twenty days after pitching his last high school game, Clyde won his first ever Major League start before over 35,000 fans in Arlington Stadium, the first sellout in stadium history. On February 28, 1978, Clydes tenure with the Rangers came to an end when he was traded, along with Willie Horton, to the Cleveland Indians for Tom Buskey and John Lowenstein. Journalists criticized the Rangers for promoting Clyde too soon, and after an uneventful 1974 campaign, he developed shoulder trouble and was sent down to the minor leagues in 1975, where he pitched three seasons. David Clyde had 228 strikeouts over his career. Fans remained ambivalent when Clyde was not pitching; fewer than 6,000 attended the other two games of the series. He got off to an abysmal start, losing all four decisions while registering an 8.67 ERA in five starts before being shut down again. Theres been some confusion over the years on that, said Clyde in 2003. Clydes career arc serves as a cautionary tale for what can happen when a young player is rushed to the big leagues. He tried a comeback with Houston in 1981, but after going 4-10 at Triple-A Tucson he called it quits. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. The numbers, however, that caught the attention of Short was tickets sold. And a week before the 30th anniversary of his winning major league debut as an 18-year-old left-hander just out of high school, he was honored by the Rangers before Friday night's game with the Astros. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. When he pitched seven strong innings in a 5-4 triumph over Detroit, Short decreed that Clyde stay with the Rangers. In 1978, David set highs for innings pitched (153 1/3), starts (25) and complete games (5). Short personally had nothing to lose and a lot to gain at the turnstiles by putting his newly acquired teenage prodigy on the mound. In his 12 home starts, the attendance averaged about 20,000, but his overall record was 4-8 with a 5.01 earned run average. Meanwhile, he had a new manager to impress. 27 Townsend, David Clyde: Franchise Savior and Cautionary Tale.. David Clyde. I decided I just didnt want to do baseball anymore, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. In my opinion, it ruined his career.54 Clyde has been interviewed countless times in the decades since his career flamed out and has consistently expressed no bitterness or regret. In a career-high 153 innings pitched, he struck out 83 and walked 60. He was up for one start, allowing three runs (two earned) to the California Angels in seven innings in Arlington. Clyde then toiled for guilas del Zulia, a Maracaibo-based club in the Venezuelan winter league, where he won only one of his five decisions while posting a 5.50 ERA.33 After filing for divorce from Cheryl that winter, he required a tonsillectomy as he was set to depart for spring training in Florida. After seeking multiple opinions, the 21-year-old southpaw underwent surgery with Dr. Frank Jobe in Los Angeles and missed the remainder of the season. 1 Gene Wojciechowski, From Baseball to Tomball, Los Angeles Times, September 9, 1986: 27. 8 One of the two hits he allowed was a home run off the bat of David Bialas, who would go on to a 10-year minor-league career in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. 40 Jim Reeves, Clyde on Mend, But Impressive, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 2, 1977: 37. Retired as of 6/1/18. It led to Clyde's arm burning out at an early age, Herzog argued. [2][6] He worked in his father-in-law's lumber business in Tomball, Texas for 20 years, which he called one of the best periods of his life, giving him a "peace of mind". 35 Jim Sarni, Texas Clyde Faces a Minor Problem, Fort Lauderdale News, March 26, 1975: 53. News that former championship baseball player Jatonne Sterling from Morgan Park High School was shot and killed while away at college is hitting hard. In other words, Clyde didn't fit in Martin's vision. They averaged 8,610 spectators at Arlington Stadium in 1972, and even fewer were showing up in 1973. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. During the abbreviated 1976 spring training that resulted from an owners lockout, Clyde developed a shoulder problem. He was roughed up by the Milwaukee Brewers in his next outing but then rebounded to throw six innings of two-run ball against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Just to show they appreciated what I did.27 He spent the offseason taking journalism courses at Texas A&M University and married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Crawford. In 128 innings, he walked 119 and struck out 90. "If they ever start an Instructional League Hall of Fame, I'll be a charter member." Clyde's stats have been entered for the 5-1 loss vs. Henrietta on 2/24/2023 10:00 AM. [5][8], Clyde started for the Indians that year, playing in 28 games and finished with a record of 811, with a 4.28 ERA and 83 strikeouts. [3], Clyde began the 1974 season with a 30 record,[9] then became embroiled in controversy following a dispute between new manager Billy Martin and general manager Bobby Brown. 46 4 Cleveland Players Hit Homers to Back David Clydes 5-Hitter, Lima (Ohio) News, July 10, 1979: 16. The miscue led to two unearned runs later in the inning. He showed up to Rangers spring camp in 1977 throwing without pain but had not regained his previous velocity.40 He was assigned to the Triple-A Tucson Torosthe Rangers new affiliate in the PCLto start the season. There are a lot of guys in the American League with a fastball much better than mine, but I dont care who you areif you cant get the off-speed pitches over, all they have to do is lay back and wait for the fastball, and eventually theyll bomb you, said Clyde after a loss to the Orioles on August 27.24. By then, his fastball velocity had dipped to the 87-88 range, but he still found success.52 In 10 appearances (seven starts), he won all six of his decisions and recorded a 0.76 ERA, thereby earning a promotion to Triple-A Tucson, which had become an Astros affiliate. During his senior season, Clyde registered an 18-0 record, 0.18 ERA, and struck out a whopping 328 batters in 148 innings.9 His combination of an overpowering fastball, baffling curveball, and pinpoint control had scouts buzzing. Does the Sport Owe Him Anything, January 31, 2019, https://theathletic.com/766944/2019/01/31/david-clyde-kept-baseball-in-arlington-and-missed-an-mlb-pension-by-37-days-does-the-sport-owe-him-anything/, accessed December 23, 2022. . Math Teacher at Arlington Independent Schools. 2 Clyde is one of four players to jump from high school to the major leagues since the amateur draft was instituted in 1965. When he made his next start on July 5, Clyde was pulled in the first inning after ceding a hit and three walks to the Yankees. David Clyde was born on Friday, April 22, 1955, in Kansas City, Kansas. By Joe Nick Patoski. Do you have a sports website? Clyde retired from professional baseball on February 5, 1982, while participating in an instructional league. Jobe told him the chances of ever throwing again were 50-50.39. On June 7, 1973, at age 18 and fresh out of Westchester High School in Houston, David was selected by the Texas Rangers as the #1 overall pick in the Major League Draft. [11], In his five-year career, Clyde had an 1833 winloss record with a 4.63 earned run average and 228 strikeouts in 84 games pitched. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Two days later I went out to throw batting practice and I couldnt pick my arm up, Clyde later explained. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. June 27, 1973 I was presented with the opportunity to settle for 50 cents on the dollar or roll the dice. With more than $30,000 in medical bills to pay, Clyde decided to settle rather than risk going to arbitration and getting nothing.50 While recovering, he spent nine months working sales jobs and driving a beer truck in Houston with hopes of making a comeback the following season.51. Did you know that: Walt the Clyde Frazier were a Graduate From David T Howard High School In Atlanta Vanishing Atlanta Who remember It came at a cost, however. He also lost his season finale versus the Royals and finished with a 4-8 record and 5.01 ERA in 18 starts. The plan was supposed to have Clyde make two big league starts and then head to the Minor Leagues to begin his development. From there, things quickly went south. As a senior in high school, he was 18-0 with a 0.18 earned run average. High School: Westchester HS (Houston, TX), School: Texas A&M University (College Station, TX), Debut: "He's a lesson in the need for patience. According to my calculations, on the extra gate receipts alone, in two starts Ill make back David Clydes entire goddamn signing bonus, remarked Short.18 Clyde breezed through the first four innings while striking out five and facing the minimum. Clyde was assigned to the Columbus (Georgia) Astros of the Double-A Southern League, where he posted his best numbers in professional baseball. [2] When Clyde agreed to sign his rookie contract, part of the deal was to make his first two professional starts with the Rangers at their home field before heading to the minors to develop. More David Clyde Pages at Baseball Reference. He hadnt progressed much at all as a pitcher.47 A back condition put Clyde out of action in August, and he would not appear again for Cleveland. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. They drew 19,000 or more seven other times in the 80 remaining home games -- the first seven starts Clyde made in Texas. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. Clyde spent the majority of the 1975 season with the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) Rangers in the Double-A Eastern League. All rights reserved. But it turned out to be a fairy tale without a happy ending. With him, it was profit and loss and day to day.19 Thus, Clyde remained in the Rangers rotation as the team hit the road. Skipping development in the minor leagues was likely detrimental to Clyde, who experienced flashes of success but never achieved consistency in the majors. There are certain gifts that God gives all of us He blesses us all with certain unique abilities, and then its up to us to polish those skills, said Clyde in 2023. His sophomore season included a perfect game against the defending state champions.4 Pitching for the Westchester American Legion squad that summer, he allowed only four runs in 83 innings while racking up 150 strikeouts.5 As a junior in 1972, Clyde amassed a 17-1 record which included three no-hitters and four one-hitters.