Donn Clendenon

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Donn Alvin Clendenon (July 15, 1935 – September 17, 2005) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1961 through 1972, Clendenon played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1961-68), Montreal Expos (1969[start]), New York Mets (1969[end]-1971) and St. Louis Cardinals (1972). A native of Neosho, Missouri, he batted and threw right-handed.

In a 12-season career, Clendenon posted a .274 batting average with 159 home runs and 682 RBI in 1362 games.

Clendenon was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1969 World Series, when he helped to transform a team of lovable losers into the "Miracle Mets." The Metropolitans trounced the Baltimore Orioles in a five-game decision to win the series.

Clendenon was a gifted athlete who could have been a professional player in three different sports. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 after rejecting contracts with both the Cleveland Browns and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Clendenon made his major league debut with Pittsburgh in 1961 and remained with them through most of the 1960s. Clendenon was a handy RBI man for the Pirates, although he was always overshadowed by Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente. Clendenon was selected by the expansion Montreal Expos in 1969. Montreal was just about to deal Clendenon to the Houston Astros before the start of the season, but Clendenon refused to go to Houston and opted to retire. Eventually he was allowed to rejoin the Expos in May. Houston's loss was the New York Mets' gain.

The Mets, who had great pitching and fine fielding, were missing just one thing, and that was a bat that would drive in runs. After Clendenon refused to report to the Astros, he was instead traded to the Mets. He filled the Amazins' power needs, and he did so with flying colors.

As soon as he put on the Orange and Blue, he played spectacularly. Clendenon helped the formerly hapless National League team get over the hump. His stellar hitting led the Mets past Leo Durocher's Chicago Cubs in the National League's Eastern Division. He eventually helped the Mets sweep the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs, bringing them to the World Series.

In the World Series, Clendenon hit three home runs and had four runs batted in during the Mets' five-game victory over the heavily-favored Orioles. His home runs in Games Two, Four and Five meant the difference in each contest, and earned Clendenon the Series MVP award.

On July 28, 1970, Clendenon set a Mets record by driving in seven runs with a pair of three-run homers and a sacrifice fly. He went on to break the team's single season RBI record with 97.

Clendenon was released by the Mets in October of 1971 and signed with the Cardinals.

After retiring from baseball in 1972, Clendenon earned a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University. He recounted the 1969 season in his book, Miracle In New York, in which he also talked about growing up in Atlanta, earning his law degree and battling drug addiction as he neared his 50th birthday. He eventually entered a drug rehabilitation facility in Ogden, Utah, and during a physical examination in connection with his treatment, he learned he had leukemia. That prompted his move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he practiced law and became a certified addiction counselor.

Clendenon died in Sioux Falls at age 70.

[edit] See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time
• Montreal Expos all-time roster

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Baseball Library Profile
• USA Today obituary
• Georgia Sports Hall of fame