Clete Boyer

News Obituary Article

BUFORD: Clete Boyer, 70, ex-major leaguer for Yankees, Braves

By THOMAS STINSON

A half-century ago, when the New York Yankees dominated everything that moved in baseball, Clete Boyer enjoyed a third-base view of one of the game's memorable dynasties.

Aside from the five World Series, a Gold Glove award and some subsequent power years after he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, Mr. Boyer lived through one of baseball's most momentous seasons with the 1961 Yankees --- when teammates Roger Maris (61 homers) and Mickey Mantle (56) chased down Babe Ruth's home run record (60).

"One of his favorite lines was that the three of them had 126 home runs between them," said his son, Mick Boyer of Buford. "And he only had 11, I think."

An unsurpassed defensive player, Mr. Boyer was dealt to the Braves in 1967, their second season in Atlanta, where after the most productive seasons of his life, his career came to an unceremonious and premature halt.

He clashed with manager Paul Richards, in part over how young players were being coached to play defense.

Even though he blossomed as a hitter in Atlanta and even hit five home runs with 14 RBIs in his last nine games, he secured his release and went off to play four more years in Japan. He returned to help instruct young players for the same franchise that had let him walk away.

"Honestly, there were never hard feelings that I can tell you about electing to go to Japan," his son said. "He and Paul Richards didn't get along."

Cletis Leroy Boyer, 70, of Buford died Monday of a brain hemorrhage at Gwinnett Medical Center. The memorial service is at 11 a.m. June 16 at Shadowbrook Baptist Church. Tapp/Tim Stewart Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

After a 16-year major league career, Mr. Boyer returned to coach with former Yankees teammate Billy Martin in Oakland, Calif., and New York. In 1977, he worked on the same Yankees staff as a 36-year-old Bobby Cox, the third base coach and now Braves manager.

"He'd sit around and want to talk baseball day and night," said Mr. Cox of Marietta, though he thought Mr. Boyer's reputation at third base should not overshadow his hitting ability.

"People forget because Mantle and Maris were on those teams, but he'd hit you 20 home runs a year," Mr. Cox said.

Because Mr. Boyer played in the same league as Baltimore Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, it wasn't until he came to Atlanta that he won a Gold Glove in 1969.

Bobby Richardson, who played second base across from Mr. Boyer in New York, saw the two as near-equals. "I only remember him making one bad throw on a double play," Mr. Richardson said from his home in Sumter, S.C. "He threw it low, Frank Robinson slid into me pretty hard, and I needed five stitches in my chin. But one bad throw in five years, I'll take that."

One of 14 children, Mr. Boyer and two of his brothers reached the major leagues. He broke in at 18 with the Kansas City Athletics in 1955. The late Kenny Boyer played in St. Louis, and Cloyd Boyer of Joplin, Mo., played for St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo.

Mr. Boyer finished his career a .242 hitter with 162 home runs, 654 RBIs and a smooth .966 career fielding percentage. For all his accomplishments, one of his most memorable nights came in 1996, when the Braves staged a goodbye ceremony for Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Mr. Boyer was among a host of former Braves who took the field for the last time that night.

"He said that was one of the special times he remembered," said his daughter Colette Parker of Flowery Branch. "He came running through with the other former players. That was one of his memorable moments of his life."

Survivors include three other daughters, Valerie Gladden of Suwanee, Stephanie Boyer of Jasper and Jerran Boyer of Florida; another son, Brett Boyer of Florida; six sisters, Marcy Layton, Bobbie McNary, Tansy Schell and Juanita Woodmansee, all of Joplin, Shirlie Lockhart of Arkansas and Dolores Webb of Oklahoma; four other brothers, Lenny Boyer, Ronnie Boyer and Lynn Boyer, all of Joplin, and Wayne Boyer of Kokomo, Ind.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

© 2007 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution