Cliff Politte

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1974)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Cliff Politte

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1974|2|27}}

|birth_place=St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 2

|debutyear=1998

|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 15

|finalyear=2006

|finalteam=Chicago White Sox

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=22–23

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.40

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=342

|teams=

• St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1998}})
• Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2002}})
• Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2003}})
• Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2006}})

|awards=

• World Series champion ({{wsy|2005}})

}}

Clifford Anthony Politte /pɒˈliːt/ (born February 27, 1974) is an American former professional baseball (right-handed) relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four big league teams. He was selected in the 54th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals as the 1438th player selected.{{cite book | editor = Cardinals' Media Relations | year = 2001 | title = St. Louis Cardinals 2001 Media Guide | publisher = Hadler Printing Company | pages = D-17}} Politte came up to the parent club in {{mlby|1998}}. He threw the first pitch at the new Roger Dean Stadium in spring training, that year. From there, Politte went to the Philadelphia Phillies and then the Toronto Blue Jays, before signing with the Chicago White Sox in {{by|2004}}. He won a World Series ring with the White Sox in {{by|2005}}.

Politte was designated for assignment by the White Sox on July 15, {{by|2006}}, after giving up a home run to Bubba Crosby and was released on July 20.

On February 14, 2007, the Cleveland Indians signed Politte to a minor league deal. He pitched only eight innings for their Double-A team in 2007.

On December 21, 2007, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Politte to a minor league deal, with an invitation to spring training. He became a free agent at the end of the season. Politte resides in St. Louis, Missouri.