Cliff Blankenship
From BR Bullpen
Clifford Douglas Blankenship
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10½", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut April 17, 1905
- Final Game August 18, 1909
- Born April 10, 1880 in Columbus, GA USA
- Died April 26, 1956 in Oakland, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"I've got to go up in Idaho and inspect a pitcher named Johnson. He's probably some busher that isn't even worth the car fare to scout." - comment by Cliff Blankenship to Clyde Milan about Blankenship's assignment to look at some fellow named Walter Johnson
Cliff Blankenship hit fairly well in the minors but not so much in the majors. His major league career consisted of three separate seasons - 1905, 1907, and 1909, mostly with the Washington Senators.
Blankenship was a catcher and also a first baseman at a time when first base was an important defensive position. In the minors he played some third as well, and in both the majors and minors he was in the outfield on occasion.
Cliff was with Seattle from 1904-06 and hit around .310 each year.
His first year as a minor league manager was 1909, and he managed for 11 minor league seasons.
Blankenship is remembered as a scout of sorts - while injured with the Senators he was sent to check out Walter Johnson in Idaho. Per the legend, he was told to bring his bat and, because he wasn't much of a hitter in the majors, to sign Johnson only if it wasn't possible to even hit a foul ball off of him. Blankenship wired back: "You can't hit what you can't see." The Senators did sign Johnson and the rest is history.
