| Moose Clabaugh | |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 13 November 1901 |
| Birth Place: | Albany, Missouri, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 30 |
| Debutyear: | 1926 |
| Debutteam: | Brooklyn Robins |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | September 25 |
| Finalyear: | 1926 |
| Finalteam: | Brooklyn Robins |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .071 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 1 |
| Teams: |
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John William "Moose" Clabaugh (November 13, 1901 – July 11, 1984) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He was batting star in minor league baseball who in 1926 blasted 62 home runs in a low-level circuit, and received an abbreviated trial with the Brooklyn Robins of the National League in the closing weeks of that season. But, hampered by defensive deficiencies as an outfielder,[1] he appeared in only 11 Major League games, made one hit in 14 at bats, and returned to the minors for the remainder of his 16-season career.
Clabaugh was born in Albany, Missouri, batted left-handed, and threw right-handed. Contrary to his nickname, he stood tall and weighed . In 1924, his second pro season, he batted over .300 for the first time, and would go on to win five batting titles. But his 1926 season, as a member of the Tyler Trojans of the Class D East Texas League, would earn his MLB audition and cement his reputation as a minor-league batsman. In 121 games played, he hit 62 homers, scored 106 runs, drove in 164 RBI, and batted .376, leading his league in those categories.[2]
His exploits caused the Brooklyn Robins to acquire his contract and bring him to the majors in late August. But because of his poor defense, he was used largely as a pinch hitter, getting into only two games (and one start) as a left fielder; in 11 defensive innings, he made three putouts and two errors in five total chances, for a horrendous fielding percentage of .600.[3] At the plate, he collected one hit, a pinch-hit double off Hal Carlson of the Philadelphia Phillies at Baker Bowl on September 9; it was a key blow in a nine-run, ninth-inning rally that gave Brooklyn a 12–6 victory.[4]
Clabaugh's minor-league career resumed in 1927 and he resumed his heavy hitting in higher classifications, including four years in the top-level Pacific Coast League, before his retirement from baseball after the 1940 season with 346 home runs in 2,098 career games.[5] He died in Tucson, Arizona, at 82 on July 11, 1984.