Batting average .272 Role Baseball player Name Harlond Clift | Runs batted in 829 Home runs 178 | |
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Died April 27, 1992, Yakima, Washington, United States | ||
Harlond Benton "Darkie" Clift (August 12, 1912 – April 27, 1992) was a former American professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns (1934–1943) and the Washington Senators (1943–1945). He was an All-Star for the American League in 1937. Born in El Reno, Oklahoma.
Career
In 12 seasons, he played in 1,582 games, had 5,730 at bats, 1,070 runs, 1,558 hits, 309 doubles, 62 triples, 178 home runs, 829 RBI, 69 stolen bases, 1,070 walks, 2,525 total bases, 53 sacrifice hits, a .272 batting average, .390 on-base percentage, and .441 slugging percentage.
Clift was one of the first power-hitting third basemen, posting his offensive numbers at a time when players at that position were more valued for their fielding. However, Clift was also regarded as a superb fielder. In the 1937 season, he set single-season records of 50 double plays and 405 assists that stood until 1971.
Clift was traded to the Washington Senators in 1943.
A serious case of the mumps and a horse-riding injury hampered Clift's play late in his career.
Clift died in Yakima, Washington, at the age of 79.