Yankees Legend Clete Boyer Dead at 70

I only saw Clete Boyer at the end of his career, but he was every bit the 3rd baseman that Brooks Robinson was, but played in his shadow due to a lack of hitting. Boyer died yesterday at age 70 after suffering a massive stroke.

Cletis Leroy Boyer played for 3 seasons with the Kansas City A's before being sent as a player to be named later to the Yankees as a part of a 12 player deal. His slick glove work became a staple in the Yankees 5 World Series appearances and 2 championships from 1960-1964. He faced his brother Ken Boyer of the Cardinals in that '64 world series, and in doing so they became the only brothers to home in the same series game. Boyer had his best season offensively for the Bombers in 1962 when he hit .272-18-68.

The Yankees dealt him to Atlanta after the 1966 season for Bill Robinson and Chi-Chi Olivo. The deal didn't work out well for the Yankees, but Boyer had a career high 26 HR and 96 RBI playing in The Launching Pad in 1967.

After retiring as a player, Boyer coached at the major league level for the Yankees and A's, and was always a fan favorite at old-timer's day.

He is survived by his brother Cloyd, who was a major league pitcher; his sons Brett and Mickey; his daughters Valerie, Stephanie, Colette and Jerran; his brothers Ronald, Leonard, Wayne and Lynn; his sisters Bobby, Marcella, Juanita, Delores, Shirley and Pansy; 10 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

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