Clancy Smyres Explained

Clancy Smyres
Position:Pinch hitter
Birth Date:24 May 1922
Birth Place:Culver City, California, U.S.
Death Place:Lancaster, California, U.S.
Bats:Switch
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 18
Debutyear:1944
Debutteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:April 30
Finalyear:1944
Finalteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.000
Stat2label:Runs scored
Stat2value:1
Stat3label:RBI
Stat3value:0
Teams:

Clarence Melvin Smyres (May 24, 1922  - November 27, 2007) was an American Major League Baseball player.

Biography

Smyres was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 after an injury to shortstop-manager Leo Durocher.[1]

Smyres appeared in five games for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1944 Major League Baseball season, recording two at bats but no hits. He never played defense for the Dodgers.

Though having never recorded a major league hit, his autograph is one of the rarest among former athletes and is highly sought by collectors. Items signed by Smyres consistently fetch high prices at auction.[2]

Smyres was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Notes and References

  1. News: McGowen . Roscoe . Shortstop Smyres Signed by Dodgers; Rickey Takes Youngster for Infield 'Insurance' After Injury to Durocher . 24 May 2021 . . April 11, 1944.
  2. Web site: The Strange Saga of Clancy Smyres and Why His Autograph is More Valuable Than Babe Ruth. 23 September 2013. 13 December 2017.