Clint Conatser
From BR Bullpen
Clinton Astor Conatser
(Connie)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 182 lb.
- School Los Angeles City College
- High School John C. Fremont High School
- Debut April 21, 1948
- Final Game July 14, 1949
- Born July 24, 1921 in Los Angeles, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
California native Clint Conatser spent ten active seasons in professional baseball from 1939 to 1952. During this time span he spent four seasons (1942-1945) in the United States Military Service with the Coast Guard, during World War II.
Clint spent from 1939 to 1941 in the minor leagues with six different teams in six different leagues all of class D, C and B ratings. The 18-year-old outfielder had his best numbers in the 1940 season when he hit at a .292 clip with 14 home runs in a split-season with the Fargo-Moorhead Twins of the class D Northern League and the Flint Gems of the class C Michigan State League.
Back from the service in 1946, Conatser spent the season with the Dallas Rebels of the AA Texas League and hit .280 with 13 home runs in 464 at-bats. Getting ready for a shot at the big leagues Clint hit .287 with 14 homers and 52 RBI in another split-season in 1947 with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League and the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. It was probably his best year to date.
The Boston Braves evidently thought so, as they drafted Clint from the Detroit Tigers, on November 10, 1947 in the Rule V Draft. Conatser showed well the following spring and made the Braves' major league roster for the 1948 opening. He stuck with the team for the entire season, appearing in 90 games with 224 at-bats for a .277 average and fielded his outfield slot at a .978 percentage. The Braves won the National League pennant that season with a 91-62 record, but were beaten in the World Series by the Cleveland Indians, 4 games to 2. Clint appeared in two games in the Series and had four at-bats with no hits, but came up with one RBI.
Clint was back with the Braves in 1949 and appeared in 53 games, hitting at a .263 clip and hung with the big club until July 14th of that same year. This ended his time in The Show and he finished out his big league time with a .271 batting average and 39 RBI in 143 games. He finished out the season with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, appearing in 49 games and hitting at a .276 clip with 25 RBI.
Clint played three more seasons (1950-1952), all in AAA ball, but his production was not up to his past standards. He finished out his minor league career with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League in 1952, appearing in 81 games and hitting .267. This gave him minor league totals of 847 games and 2,773 at-bats with 740 base hits and a .267 career batting average.
Not much information can be found about Conatser's life after baseball, but he is believed to be alive and living on the west coast. As of this date (2011) Clinton Astor Conaster would be 89 years of age.
