Lou Clinton

Luciean Louis Clinton
(Lu or Ponca City Lou)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• School Northern Oklahoma College
• High School Ponca City High School
• Debut April 22, 1960
• Final Game April 30, 1967
• Born October 13, 1937 in Ponca City, OK USA
• Died December 6, 1997 in Wichita, KS USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Lou Clinton played eight years in the big leagues, hitting 65 home runs.

Clinton was born in Ponca City, OK, the only major leaguer from there (through 2019) other than Clint Sodowsky. As a youngster he played in the midget leagues, Cub Scouts and the Conoco leagues. He was a high school star and briefly attended Northern Oklahoma College. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1955 and played in their minor league system through 1961, although most of 1960 was spent in the majors. He had some home run power, with a peak of 21 homers for the Seattle Rainiers in 1961. While he was with the Minneapolis Millers in 1958, the team won the 1958 Junior World Series.

Clinton appeared in 96 games for the Red Sox in 1960 at 22, becoming the youngest regular on the club. He was the regular right fielder for much of the season while Ted Williams, in his last major league season, was the regular left fielder. On August 9th, Lou was involved in a bizarre play in a game with the Cleveland Indians. The great Vic Power stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 5th inning and socked a rocket off the wall that ricocheted off Lou's foot and over the wall. The umpiring crew ruled that since the ball never touched the ground, it was a home run featuring an assist from Lou's foot (which earned him an error from the official scorer).

After hitting only .228 with 6 home runs, Lou spent much of 1961 back in the minors, making way for the return of Jackie Jensen. He re-emerged for 17 games, chasing Roger Maris' 61st home run to the wall at Yankee Stadium on the season's final day. Lou became the regular right fielder again in 1962 and had a good year, hitting .294/.349/.540. His OPS+ of 133 beat out both Pete Runnels, who won the batting championship, and a young Carl Yastrzemski. On July 13, he hit for the cycle, going 5-for-7 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI, including the game-winner, in a 15 inning battle with the Kansas City Athletics. The next year, 1963, Lou saw his most action, batting .232/.294/.416 in 148 games with 22 home runs and 77 RBI.

Lou was traded in the middle of 1964 to the Los Angeles Angels for Lee Thomas and spent the rest of the season, as well as most of 1965, out in California, becoming a part-time player. Claimed off waivers in September 1965, he appeared in one game with the A's before the selection was voided for having been made after the 24-hour deadline for claims had passed. He was awarded to the Cleveland Indians, who had made a simultaneous claim for his services, and he played 12 games with them. In the offseason, the Indians traded him to the New York Yankees, and he finished his major league career with the Yanks in 1966 and 1967. Clinton played a lot in right field in 1966 as the Yankees tumbled to 10th in the AL. Lou and Roger Maris had approximately the same offensive stats (Clinton posted a line of .220/.288/.403 while Maris hit .233/.307/.382). Although he appeared in a few games in 1967, he spent most of the year in the minors with the San Diego Padres, his last season.

After baseball, he entered the oil business with his uncle, driving the main roads in Wichita, KS. He died of pneumonia at 60.

Notable Achievements

• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1963)

Related Sites

• Lou Clinton at the SABR Bio Project
• Lou Clinton obituary