Harlond Clift

From BR Bullpen

Harlond Benton Clift (Darkie)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.

Debut April 17, 1934
Final Game September 20, 1945
Born August 12, 1912 in El Reno, OK USA
Died April 27, 1992 in Yakima, WA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Harlond Clift was a good-hitting and good-fielding third baseman at a time when that was unusual in the majors. He played from 1934-1945 for two teams, the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Senators. The Browns were never very good, while the Senators of the time were an above-average team.

Clift was multi-talented. He drew copious walks, getting over 100 in six different seasons (he is # 77 on the all-time list for walks). He hit home runs well, finishing as high as third in the league in 1938. He set the major league record for home runs by a third baseman in 1937 and then improved on it in 1938. It was his record that Eddie Mathews broke in 1953.

Clift was second in the league in doubles in 1942, and third in the league in triples in 1934 as a 21-year-old rookie. He was often in the top five in the league in hit-by-pitch.

The most similar player as of 2006, according to the similarity scores method, is Ken Keltner.