Hall of Fame
Born in Cassivlle, Missouri, Cletis Leroy “Clete” Boyer played the majority of his games at third base too. He played for the Kansas City Athletics (1955-1957), New York Yankees (1959-1966) and Atlanta Braves (1967-1971). During his professional career he hit 162 home runs with 654 runs batted in and a .242 batting average in 1,725 games.
For the 1962 season while playing with the Yankees Clete finished the year with a .272 batting average, 18 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He came within nine assists of the third base record total of 405 set by Harlond Clift in 1937. The Yankees won the World Series in 1962 and in Game 1, Clete hit a seventh-inning home run to break a 2 to 2 tie with the San Francisco Giants. The Yankees won the game 6 to 2 and preserved the last of Whitey Ford’s World Series record 10 victories. From 1961 to 1963 Clete led all American League third basemen in putouts, assists and double plays.
In 1967 Clete had his most productive offensive season while playing for the Atlanta Braves. He established career highs in home runs with 26 and runs batted in with 96 . He also continued his mastery at third base by leading the National League in fielding both in 1967 and 1969. For his outstanding defense Clete won a Gold Glove in 1969. Winning this award made baseball history because this was the first time a set of brothers would win Gold Gloves.
