Clyde McCullough

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Clyde Edward McCullough

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Biographical Information[edit]

Catcher Clyde McCullough played in the majors for 15 years, mostly with the Chicago Cubs, and later was a coach and minor league manager.

McCullough made his pro debut as an 18-year-old with the Lafayette White Sox of the Evangeline League in 1935. He spent the next four years in the New York Yankees system before being sold to the Cubs after the 1939 season. He spent most of 1940 with the Buffalo Bisons, hitting .324 with 27 home runs, but also saw action at the big league level that year. He made his major league debut on April 28th, pinch hitting against Clyde Shoun of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 9th inning and striking out, but did not play for Chicago again until September. Overall, he hit .154 in 9 games for the Cubs that year.

McCullough became Chicago's regular catcher in 1941 and posted career-highs with 9 homers and 53 RBIs. He remained the team's starting backstop until entering the Navy in December 1943. He was discharged in September 1945, just prior to the Cubs World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Commissioner Happy Chandler allowed the club to add him to their postseason roster, and he made an appearance as a pinch hitter in Game 7, striking out facing Hal Newhouser. He is the only player ever to appear in a World Series without playing a regular season game in the same year.

Despite hitting just .209 and splitting time behind the plate with Bob Scheffing and Rube Walker in 1948, McCullough was selected to that year's All-Star Game. Following that season, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates. After four years with the Pirates, he was traded back to the Cubs. He was again selected to the All-Star Game in 1953. He remained with Chicago through 1956.

After his release from the Cubs he suited up for the semipro Alpine Cowboys as he was added to their team just before the National Semipro Tournament in Wichita, KS. Despite Alpine finishing in third place McCullough was named MVP of the tournament.

In 1957 he played for the Miami Marlins of the International League, his final season as a player.

Following his playing days, McCullough was minor league manager for two seasons. He then was a coach for the Washington Senators in 1960) and remained with the club in 1961, when they became the Minnesota Twins. He was a New York Mets coach in 1963 and managed in their organization through 1969. In his final year in the Mets system, he was named Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News while leading the Tidewater Tides. After spending nearly two years as a manager in the Montreal Expos organization, he suffered a heart attack. He returned to the Mets as a minor league instructor from 1974 to 1976.

McCullough became bullpen coach of the San Diego Padres in 1982. While traveling with the club to San Francisco late in the season, he was found dead in his hotel room. He was 65 years old.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • 2-time NL All-Star (1948 & 1953)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1958 Reading Indians Eastern League 75-58 2nd Cleveland Indians
1959 Asheville Tourists South Atlantic League 70-70 5th Philadelphia Phillies
1963 Raleigh Mets Carolina League -- New York Mets replaced by Tommy Byrne
1964 Auburn Mets New York-Pennsylvania League 79-48 1st New York Mets League Champs
1965 Auburn Mets New York-Pennsylvania League 73-55 2nd New York Mets none
1966 Auburn Mets New York-Pennsylvania League 80-49 1st New York Mets League Champs
1967 Durham Bulls Carolina League 74-64 2nd (t) New York Mets League Champs
1968 Jacksonville Suns International League 75-71 4th New York Mets League Champs
1969 Tidewater Tides International League 76-59 1st New York Mets Lost in 1st round
1970 Buffalo Bisons/Winnipeg Whips International League 52-88 7th Montreal Expos
1971 Winnipeg Whips International League 32-58 -- Montreal Expos replaced by Jim Bragan on July 19

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