Curt Blefary
{{Short description|American baseball player (1943–2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Curt Blefary
|position=Outfielder / First baseman
|image=Curt Blefary 1970.jpg
|caption=Blefary in 1970
|birth_date={{birth date|1943|7|5}}
|birth_place=Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2001|1|28|1943|7|5}}
|death_place=Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 14
|debutyear=1965
|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 4
|finalyear=1972
|finalteam=San Diego Padres
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Batting average
|stat1value=.237
|stat2label=Home runs
|stat2value=112
|stat3label=Runs batted in
|stat3value=382
|teams=
- Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|1965}}–{{mlby|1968}})
- Houston Astros ({{mlby|1969}})
- New York Yankees ({{mlby|1970}}–{{mlby|1971}})
- Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|1971}}–{{mlby|1972}})
- San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1972}})
|highlights=
- World Series champion ({{wsy|1966}})
- AL Rookie of the Year (1965)
}}
Curtis Leroy "Clank" Blefary (July 5, 1943 – January 28, 2001) was an American professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles (1965–1968), Houston Astros (1969), New York Yankees (1970–1971), Oakland Athletics (1971–1972) and the San Diego Padres (1972). A native of Brooklyn, New York, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
He was the 1965 Rookie of the Year. In 1969, he and teammate Don Wilson became the first interracial roommates in National League history.
Early life
Blefary was born on July 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Mahwah, New Jersey and attended Mahwah High School.{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2001-01-30 |title=Curt Blefary, 57, Outfielder And A.L. Rookie of the Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/30/sports/curt-blefary-57-outfielder-and-al-rookie-of-the-year.html |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} He was a three-sport star (baseball, basketball and football), and received All-state baseball honors in 1960. He was captain of the school's baseball team as a senior.{{Cite news |date=March 12, 1961 |title=Curt Blefary Leads T'Bird Baseball Club |work=The Sunday News (Ridgewood, New Jersey) |pages=65}}{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1959 |title=Don Bosco Cops Second, Preps for Tournament |work=The Sunday News (Ridgewood, New Jersey) |pages=86}}{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1960 |title=Percival Leads Area Scoring |work=Ridgewood-Herald News |pages=31}} As a senior, he switched from playing third base to playing catcher.{{Cite web |last=Henshell |first=John |title=Curt Blefary – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/curt-blefary/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |language=en-US}}
Baseball Career
The New York Yankees signed Blefary as an amateur free agent in 1962.{{Cite web |title=Curt Blefary Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=blefacu01 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}
= Minor leagues =
In 1962, he was assigned to the Yankees Class-B team in Greensboro and played there in 1962-63,{{Cite web |title=1962 Greensboro Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=3b38070c |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1963 Greensboro Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=7ce295d0 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} but the Yankees waived him in April 1963, and the Orioles claimed him. He played in the Orioles minor league system in 1963-64. He had his first professional experience playing catcher for the 1963 Elmira Pioneers, under future Orioles manager Earl Weaver.{{Cite web |title=1963 Elmira Pioneers Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=b840f246 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In 1964, with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, he had a .287 batting average, with 31 home runs, 80 runs batted in (RBI), 87 runs scored, a .924 on-base plus slugging (OPS), and 102 bases on balls.{{Cite web |title=1964 Rochester Red Wings Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=26465e9e |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
= Baltimore Orioles =
In his debut year with the Orioles in {{By|1965}}, Blefary hit .260 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI, winning both the American League Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Doug |date=1995-05-04 |title=Blefary, top rookie in '65, winning battle with bottle |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/05/04/blefary-top-rookie-in-65-winning-battle-with-bottle/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Rookie Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp2.shtml |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}
During the 1965 Winter Meetings, he was one of three players along with Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun whose names were originally submitted by the Cincinnati Reds in discussions of any transaction which would have sent Frank Robinson to Baltimore, but the Orioles balked at trading Blefary. Dick Simpson was sent to the Reds instead of Blefary to complete the deal.[https://vault.si.com/vault/1966/10/24/the-reasons-why-the-orioles-won Leggett, William. "The Reasons Why the Orioles Won," Sports Illustrated, October 24, 1966.] Retrieved October 16, 2020 The following season, he was a member of the Orioles team that won the 1966 World Series.{{Cite web |title=1966 Baltimore Orioles Roster {{!}} Baseball Almanac |url=https://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1966&t=BAL |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=baseball-almanac.com}} Blefary principally played left field (and 20 games at first base), hitting .255, with 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 73 runs and an .839 OPS.{{Cite web |title=1966 Baltimore Orioles Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1966.shtml |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
Nicknamed "Clank" by Frank Robinson because of his below-average fielding abilities, Blefary started his career in the outfield, tried at first base, then switched to catcher, in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup.{{Cite web |title=#CardCorner: 1972 Topps Curt Blefary {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/card-corner/1972-topps-curt-blefary |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=baseballhall.org}} In 1967, he played over 100 games in the outfield (both right and left field) and over 50 games at first base.{{Cite web |title=Curt Blefary Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blefacu01.shtml |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Blefary hit .242, with 22 home runs and 81 RBI.{{Cite web |title=1967 Baltimore Orioles Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1967.shtml |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} On June 6, 1967, Blefary hit three home runs in a game against the California Angels, with 7 RBI.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 1967 |title=Orioles Erupt Against Angels |work=Tallahassee Democrat (Associated Press) |pages=22}}
In 1968, Blefary not only played the outfield and first base, but played 40 games at catcher, being moved to catcher by Orioles manager Hank Bauer. On April 27, 1968, he caught Tom Phoebus's no-hitter against the Red Sox.{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1968/B04270BAL1968.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 6, Boston Red Sox 0|website=www.retrosheet.org}} His batting average fell to .200 for the 1968 season, however, and he hit only 15 home runs with 39 RBI in 451 at bats.{{Cite web |title=1968 Baltimore Orioles Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1968.shtml |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Earl Weaver replaced Bauer as Orioles' manager in 1968, and considered Blefary's ability to play different positions valuable, even if his hitting declined for this one year.{{Cite news |date=September 22, 1968 |title=Birds to protect Blefary, Crowley? It's all speculation |work=Staten Island Sunday Advance |pages=44}} Blaming his constant defensive shuffling for his offensive decline, Blefary was traded to Houston in December 1968, in the deal that brought Mike Cuellar to the Orioles.{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Jack |date=December 6, 1968 |title=Swap No Surprise To Curt Blefary |work=The Baltimore Sun |pages=29}} Blefary said at the time that Weaver never appreciated his efforts, and was not surprised to be traded.
= Houston Astros, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres =
Blefary was the Astros starting first baseman in 1969. He hit .253, with 12 home runs, 67 RBI, 66 runs and 77 walks. On May 4, 1969, Blefary, who was playing first base participated in all of the Astros record-tying seven double plays in a game against the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web |title=Box Score of Game played on Sunday, May 4, 1969 at Astrodome |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=196905040HOU |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}} In 1969 with the Astros, Blefary and teammate Don Wilson became the first interracial roommates in National League history.
After a full season with the Astros, at the end of the {{By|1969}} season he was traded to the Yankees for fellow Brooklynite, Joe Pepitone.{{Cite web |title=Joe Pepitone Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pepitjo01.shtml |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Blefary was used as a part-time player by the Yankees. He played in 99 games, batting .212 in 269 at bats with only nine home runs.{{Cite web |title=1970 New York Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1970.shtml |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was dealt from the Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Rob Gardner and Darrell Osteen on May 25, {{By|1971}}.[https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/26/archives/tigers-triumph-over-yanks-74-for-7th-in-row-detroit-rallies-for-4.html Rogers, Thomas. "Tigers Triumph over Yanks, 7–4, for 7th in Row," The New York Times, Wednesday, May 26, 1971.] Retrieved October 25, 2020 He was sent to the Padres in {{By|1972}}. He played sparingly in his last two seasons, with little offensive production.
In an eight-season career, Blefary was a .237 hitter with 112 home runs and 382 RBI in 974 games.{{Cite web |title=Curt Blefary Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/curt-blefary-111096 |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}
Personal life
After retiring in 1972, he tried unsuccessfully to continue his career in baseball as a coach. He worked as a sheriff, bartender, truck driver, and later owned a night club.
He played and coached in the 1977 season with the New Jersey Statesmen, a professional softball team in the American Professional Slo-Pitch League (APSPL), as did fellow MLB alumnus Joe Pepitone.{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1977 |title=Clipped From The Daily Register |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64590999/the-daily-register/ |newspaper=The Daily Register |pages=22 |via=newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=June 10, 1977 |title=Clipped From The News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64591763/the-news/ |newspaper=The News |pages=8 |via=newspapers.com}} Blefary managed the team in 1978 but was fired mid-season.{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1978 |title=Clipped From Democrat and Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65443163/democrat-and-chronicle/ |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |pages=8 |via=newspapers.com}}
Even as his health failed in his later years, he hoped to secure a professional coaching job, but his only connection with baseball was as a volunteer coach for Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale.{{Cite web |last= |date=2001-01-29 |title=BLEFARY DIES AT 57 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2001/01/29/blefary-dies-at-57/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}
Blefary's grandson, Anthony Servideo, was drafted in the third round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft by the Orioles. Servideo is a shortstop and played college baseball at the University of Mississippi.{{cite web |title=Anthony Servideo Player Profile |url=https://olemisssports.com/sports/baseball/roster/anthony-servideo/2471 |access-date=27 December 2020 |website=Ole Miss Baseball}}
Alcoholism, later life and death
Blefary started drinking at age 18, and continued drinking hard liquor for 33 years, which he acknowledged harmed his career. Former major league pitcher Sam McDowell helped Blefary find his way to rehabilitation.
In the last years of his life, Blefary suffered from chronic pancreatitis. He had hip replacement surgery due to avascular necrosis in the mid-1990s and experienced a variety of health and financial problems, including alcoholism and depression.{{cite web|author1=Jennifer Frey|author-link=Jennifer Frey|title=Baseball; 'I've Walked in Their Shoes'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/26/sports/baseball-i-ve-walked-in-their-shoes.html|work=The New York Times|date=February 26, 1995}}
Blefary died at his home in Pompano Beach, Florida on January 28, 2001, at the age of 57 from chronic pancreatitis and other related ailments. His last wish was to be buried in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. Although the park was nearly demolished when he died, his wife Lana was able to honor his request to scatter his ashes in Memorial Stadium. The Babe Ruth Museum supplied the home plate used in the penultimate game at the stadium and located it in the precise spot where it had been used. The ceremony was held on May 24, 2001.{{Cite web |last= |date=2001-05-25 |title=Ex-Oriole Blefary in final trip to home |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2001/05/25/ex-oriole-blefary-in-final-trip-to-home/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}} "He loved Baltimore, and he loved his fans," said his wife. "He was a lifelong student of the game."
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/curt-blefary/ Curt Blefary] at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
{{Baseballstats|mlb=111096|br=b/blefacu01|fangraphs=1001068}}
- [http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=1179&bid=88 The Baseball Biography Project]
- [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Blefary.Curt.Obit.html The Deadball Era] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021053202/http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Blefary.Curt.Obit.html |date=2010-10-21 }}
{{AL Rookie of the Year}}
{{Sporting News MLB Rookie of the year}}
{{1966 Baltimore Orioles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blefary, Curt}}
Category:Baltimore Orioles players
Category:Deaths from pancreatitis
Category:Houston Astros players
Category:Mahwah High School alumni
Category:Major League Baseball catchers
Category:Major League Baseball first basemen
Category:Major League Baseball outfielders
Category:Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:New York Yankees players
Category:Oakland Athletics players
Category:Sportspeople from Mahwah, New Jersey
Category:San Diego Padres players
Category:Baseball players from Brooklyn