Incredible Fame and Fanfare Dissolves into Later Regrets
Here we are back to the Summer of ’73, and I was back in Forney, waiting to find out where I would teach school in two or so months. HOWEVER, I will admit that during the month of June, I probably was paying more attention to a young baseball player, about four years my junior, who was living the sporting life of which I could only dream. He had earlier been the over-all #1 selection of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft, was eighteen years old, had signed a professional baseball contract with my favorite team, THE TEXAS RANGERS, and was about to start a major league baseball game with no experience in the minor leagues.
My Goodness! He was about to pitch to players who had been his “heroes,” and he was going to do so in front of about 36,000 screaming fans, who were hungry for a home team that could be a winner and for a star, who could be their HERO! I will admit I was more than a little jealous!
But then, David Clyde, #32, walked the first two hitters he faced and appeared nervous and maybe “out of his league.” I was listening to the game on the radio and felt so sorry for this young man, who was playing the sport I always (and still do) loved!
I remember that Clyde, according to the announcer (I think!) took a few paces, gathered himself, and steeled himself to give it his all! Boy, oh boy, did he! HE STRUCK OUT THE NEXT THREE Minnesota Twins hitters, pitched four more great innings with five more strikeouts, and was credited with the victory, 4—3, after Bill “Go-Go” Gogolewski pitched the final 4 innings and allowed only 3 hits.
This young, new, likable “lefty” was awesome, and I remember thinking, “How did he stand up to all that pressure, pitching for a ‘not good team’ that was looking for a ‘fantastic gate drawing card’ and a savior from mediocrity!”
A little background for those of you who don’t know the honor/reputation of this Westchester High School’s “all-everything” player being the state’s and maybe the nation’s greatest baseball pitcher: his final year in high school Clyde had a record of 18 wins against 0 defeats and set 14 season and national records with 842 strike-outs and 29 shut-outs. This “lefty” was all but un-hittable and had the reputation of not being a prima donna.
And now the bad news, upon which Mr. Clyde does not dwell. He had been drafted by the early Texas Rangers, who could barely manage to draw 10,000 spectators, even against well-respected and followed teams.
The team, and its management at various levels, needed a ‘drawing card” and needed one fast. David Clyde seemed to be the answer to all their prayers. Apparently, this caused impatience with their new star and impatience with allowing injuries to keep him from needed rest and rehabilitation. They wanted him on the mound!
That first night and that first year’s season probably marked the beginning of injuries that caused this magnificent prospect and baseball’s “dream kid” to end his career after four years, a total record of only 18 wins against 33 losses, and numerous recurring injury problems. **He has had his left “throwing shoulder” surgically replaced.** To paraphrase words of others, David Clyde’s story stands as an example of “what not to do” for other up and coming “possible greats” and the “higher ups” who manage/pay them. Clyde himself says that he has heard and still hears folks say, “We are not going to do to this young man what was done to David Clyde.”
David Clyde has remained close to the sport, coaching Christian-based teams and also working as a private pitching instructor/ coach.
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