Clay Touchstone Explained

Clay Touchstone
Position:Pitcher
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:24 January 1903
Birth Place:Moore (now Prospect Park), Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 4
Debutyear:1928
Debutteam:Boston Braves
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 8
Finalyear:1945
Finalteam:Chicago White Sox
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–0
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:6.53
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:6
Teams:

Clayland Maffitt Touchstone (January 24, 1903 – April 28, 1949) was an American professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of three seasons (1928–29, 1945) with the Boston Braves and Chicago White Sox. For his career, he did not record a decision and compiled a 6.53 earned run average with six strikeouts in 20⅔ innings pitched.

Following the 1929 season, Touchstone played for seven seasons in the Southern Association followed by six seasons in the Texas League.[1] His contract was sold to the International League's Baltimore Orioles before the start of the 1943 but decided to quit baseball rather than report.[2]

In 1945, after having been out of baseball for several years, Touchstone signed with the Chicago White Sox. At the time, he was reported to be 39 years old despite actually being 42.[3] Upon reporting to spring training, he told reporters he "suddenly got the hankering to try baseball again" and, given the shortage of able-bodied young men on the home front during World War II, "now would be the best time."[4]

He was born in Moore (now Prospect Park), Pennsylvania and died in Beaumont, Texas at the age of 46.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clay Touchstone Minor Leagues Statistics . . . 24 January 2024 . en.
  2. News: Cassell . Randall . Jones Signs Pact, Touchstone Quits . 24 January 2024 . . 20 March 1943 . 8.
  3. News: Charlie Duke and Vernon Touchstone . 24 January 2024 . . 15 February 1945 . 24.
  4. News: Quotes and Notes . 24 January 2024 . . 15 March 1945 . 19.