Clifford Day Chambers

Clifford Day Chambers 1922 - 2012 Clifford Day Chambers died on Saturday January 21 at Paramount Park Assisted Living Center in Eagle, ID. Cliff was born in Portland, Oregon on January 10, 1922, the only child of Day Theodore and Clara Hazel Chambers. He was raised and educated through high school in Bellingham, WA where his mother took over the running of a neighborhood grocery store and his father started in business as a painting contractor. Although no one in his family had been to college, Cliff went off to Washington State University in the fall of 1939. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and distinguished himself as a hard throwing, left handed pitcher for the Cougars. He hit .444 his sophomore year. For his baseball prowess he was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and was a member of the Phi Epsilon honor group of PE majors. While at Washington State he met Emma Louise (June) Chambers whom he married April 4, 1942, in Boise, ID. Cliff signed a baseball contract with Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League and played for the Tulsa Oilers in 1942. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1942 where he spent 3 years putting together rehabilitation and recreation programs for returning military men at Fort George Wright in Spokane, WA. There his two daughters, Jane Ann and Lynne were born in 1943 and 1945 respectively. Upon leaving the Air Force, Cliff pitched for LA in 1946 and was named to the All Star team. His contract was sold to the Chicago Cubs. He spent 1947 with LA again, winning 24 games and a league championship again and was again named to the All Star team. Today he is listed as the best left handed pitcher of all time in the Pacific Coast League. From there he went to the Chicago Cubs, then was traded to the Pirates where he was the staff ace from 1948-1950. In 1951 he pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers, batting in the last run of the game. This was only the second no-hitter by a Pirate at the time and the only one pitched in the National League that year. At mid-season with an 11-6 record, a salary dispute resulted in his being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1952 his wrist was broken with a line drive early in the season. In 1953 he was not being used and was traded back to San Diego. He voluntarily retired in August, returning to Boise, ID. He opened a beer distributorship which went out of business in 1958. He spent the next year as recreation director at Mountain Home Air Force Base. He went on to learn the life insurance business and helped start a life insurance company for 3 years and finally onto Wilson Sales distributing chain saws and setting up dealers for 10 speed bikes. In 1970 he went to work for Investors Diversified Services and later became one of the first Certified Financial Planners in Idaho. He then operated as an independent broker until his retirement in 1991. Cliff served on the board of Deacons of the First Congregational Church and on the Senior Citizen's board. He was the first president of the CFPS. He held a private pilots license, served as treasurer of the Back Country Horsemen, oversaw the consolidation of the Senior Center into the Ada County Senior organization that exists today. He served at times as Republican precinct committeeman for District 14. He has membership in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Major League Baseball Alumni Association. Cliff was a devoted Christian who served as Bible study facilitator and was head of various Christian Education Committees. He and his wife cherished their Arabian horses and were avid back country riders. He took an active role with the rest of the family in caring for the Bryant Ranch of his wife's extended family, a place that was close to his heart and where he and his wife spent many vacations together. Cliff was an entertaining story teller, regaling his listeners with episodes from his years in baseball and other aspects of his eventful life. He leaves behind a host of friends and family who loved him dearly. Cliff leaves a daughter, Jane Ann Dignan, son-in-law, George Dignan, grandchildren, Brennan Dignan of Los Angeles and Ryan Dignan of Sandpoint, ID.; Grand-daughter-in-law, Karen Dignan, and 5 great-granddaughters, Stella, Sophie, Sadie, Cecelia, and Emma Louise Dignan, and an enormous host of loving friends. His wife, June, and daughter, Lynne, as well as his parents preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held at Cole Community Church on Thursday, January 24 at 11:00 am. A grave side service will be held at Dry Creek Cemetery at 11:00 on Wednesday, January 23. Memorials are suggested for a charity of your choice.