Gene Clines

Eugene Anthony Clines
(Roadrunner)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.
• School Contra Costa College
• High School Harry Ells High School
• Debut June 28, 1970
• Final Game May 8, 1979
• Born October 6, 1946 in San Pablo, CA USA
• Died January 27, 2022 in Bradenton, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"It started that afternoon. I got to the ballpark and one of our batboys made the comment 'The Homestead Grays are playing tonight.' That thought stayed in my mind and didn't dawn on me until they were playing the National Anthem. I looked to my left and I saw Stargell and I looked to my right and I saw Clemente. I turned around and I started looking at all the positions. I said 'Now I understand what the batboy said earlier that afternoon.'" - Gene Clines, to George Castle, When The Game Changed

A good hitter, a fast runner and a strong defensive presence, Gene Clines simply never could break into the talented Pittsburgh Pirates outfield on a regular basis. He was a member of the 1971 championship squad, batting second and playing center field on the evening of September 1, 1971, when the Bucs became the first club to field an entire starting nine of African-American and Hispanic ballplayers. Even following a .334/.369/.421 line in 1972, coupled with the tragic death of superstar Roberto Clemente, did not open a starting spot for Gene as the Pirates elected to experiment with catcher Manny Sanguillen in right field before settling on the younger, power-hitting Richie Zisk. Clines became a valuable role player for the remainder of his career, spending time with the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs, and an accomplished pinch hitter.

Clines retired as a player during the 1979 season but remained with the Cubbies as a coach through 1981. He later went on to coach for the Houston Astros (1988), Seattle Mariners (1989-1992), Milwaukee Brewers (1993-1994), and San Francisco Giants (1997-2002) before returning to the Cubs in 2003. He was let go after the 2006 season and joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minor league instructor. From 2008 to 2010, Clines was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Dodgers. From 2011-2012, Clines was a Senior Advisor, Player Development for the Dodgers.

In 1989, Clines played for the Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He played in 39 games and batted .328.

Notable Achievements

• Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971