As we here at Pinstripe Alley continue to do our daily feature highlighting a Yankee birthday of the day, we’re probably going to come upon situations where someone we write about happens to have been in the news recently. In today’s case, it was for a sad reason.
Today’s birthday is Ken Clay, who sadly passed away just over a week ago. Even before that news, he was set to feature as today’s birthday honoree, so let’s offer our best wishes to his family and loved ones on his 72nd birthday.
Kenneth
Earl “Ken” Clay Born: April 6, 1954 (Lynchburg, VA) Died: March 26, 2026 (Lynchburg, VA) Yankees Tenure: 1977-79
Born on April 6, 1954, Clay was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia where he made his name at E.C. Glass High School. A multi-sport star and five-letter athlete, Clay excelled on the baseball diamond, leading to the Yankees selecting him in the second round of the 1972 MLB Draft.
Right from the start in the Yankees’ minor league system, Clay showed talent and was dubbed an “outstanding” pitching prospect, but his path to the majors would take a little while. That was in large part because, while having decent stuff, he had some issues with control. In all of his first four seasons in the minors, he walked at least 4.1 batters per nine innings, including 27 in 48 innings in his first taste of Triple-A in 1975.
Clay started to get his control under, well, control, in 1976, and he followed that with an excellent start in ‘77. In 10 starts with Triple-A Syracuse, Clay went 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 75 innings. That got him a call-up to the big leagues for his first taste of The Show. Manager Billy Martin gave Clay his debut on June 7, 1977 in the eighth inning of a game the Yankees were trailing against the Rangers. Clay allowed one single in a scoreless frame, keeping the Yankees in it with a chance in the ninth, though nothing came of it.
For the year, Clay would make 21 appearances for the Yankees in 1977, including three starts. He went on to appear in the Yankees’ two World Series losses, but he pitched decently in them, earning a ring as the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, 4-2.
The following season, Clay went into the year hoping to win a spot in the Yankees’ roster, or even the rotation. However, the Yankees acquired a number of more veteran pitchers, dampening those chances. Clay began to show some frustrations over that, to the irritation of some of his veteran Yankee teammates. The generally easygoing Catfish Hunter even said that Clay had a “great arm, great slider, bad brains,” remarking that advice from him and other more experienced pitchers often went ignored.
On the field, Clay finally seemed to figure out his walk issues, but was still a bit below average, posting a 4.28 ERA. However, once again, he was good enough to merit a postseason roster spot, where he showed his potential. In Game 1 of the 1978 ALCS against the Royals, Clay threw 3.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen. He was credited with a save as he kept the Royals in check, allowing the Yankees to build and then maintain a lead. He had a less successful appearance in the World Series, but the Yankees again defeated the Dodgers, earning Clay another ring.
As the calendar turned to 1979, Clay’s frustrations about his role continued, but this time around, he was running out of positive marks to point to. Again in a swingman role, Clay posted a 5.40 ERA in in 78.1 innings.
Things fully came to a head on September 1, 1979. Having been given a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first in a game against the Royals, Clay ended up surrendering four runs on five hits and a walk, lasting just 2.1 innings, getting removed from the game by manager Billy Martin after allowing a home run to George Brett. Kansas City ended up winning the game 9-8, despite the Yankees’ big early lead. Adding to that, Clay didn’t stick around after being removed and left the dugout in frustration.
After the game, Clay was the subject of ire from not only Martin, but also Steinbrenner. As was his wont, the Yankees’ owner did not mince words about Clay, saying:
Clay has continually complained about not getting a chance to pitch, but he has refused any of our suggestions to help his pitching. I’ve heard people tell me what a great arm he has, but I question his heart. In horse racing, we have what we call a morning glory. The horse works a great three or four furlongs in the morning workout and looks sensational. Then when the race comes he starts sweating during the parade to the post, and when he gets in the gate and the race starts he stinks the place out. He spits the bit.
Clay was relegated to just one bullpen appearance for the rest of the ‘79 season, and began the following season in the minors. With the 1980 Yankees looking for pitching they could count on more, they added future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in a trade with the Rangers on August 14th. With the still-intriguing Clay pitching well in the minors, he was a featured name going the other way.
However, his fortunes didn’t really change in Texas as despite now getting an extended chance in the rotation, he posted a 4.60 ERA and also walked 29 batters in 43 innings. After the season, the Rangers included him in a 11-player deal with the Mariners. He still struggled there in 1981, and was released in March 1982. Clay never really attempted to catch on anywhere else after that, ending his baseball career at just 27 years old. Following his playing career, Clay dealt with a number of legal issues. He eventually settled back in his native Lynchburg, where he lived until his recent passing, just before his 72nd birthday.
There is a saying that there’s “no such thing as a pitching prospect,” and considering what happened to Clay, George Steinbrenner may have taken that to heart a little too much.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
