Ken Clay, a pitcher who helped the New York Yankees to back-to-back World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, has died. He was 71. Clay died on Thursday, March 26; it was announced that he died from heart and kidney problems.
Career and highlights
Clay was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1972 MLB Draft and made his first appearance for the franchise in 1977 after several seasons in the minor leagues. Much of his major-league career was spent as a relief pitcher. He was a member of the Yankees teams that won consecutive World Series championships in 1977 and 1978.
After a final year with the Yankees, Clay joined the Texas Rangers in 1980 and finished his major-league playing career with the Seattle Mariners.
Post-career legal issues
Following his time in Major League Baseball, Clay faced a series of legal problems. He pleaded guilty to stealing more than $16,000 in Virginia in 1987. In 1992 he was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty to stealing $550 from a car dealership where he worked. He later pleaded guilty to forgery in Florida in 2001 and was ordered to repay more than $40,000. He was also sentenced to five years in prison after falsifying orders while employed at a copy machine company and was released in February 2012.
Tributes and reaction
News of Clay’s death prompted tributes from fans on social media. Photographs accompanying reports showed Clay smiling in the Yankees clubhouse during his playing days (AP). The announcement noted the cause of death as heart and kidney problems, and fans and observers have shared condolences following the news.
Ken Clay’s contributions to the Yankees’ late-1970s championship teams remain a part of the club’s history. Further details, including funeral or memorial arrangements, have not been published in the material provided.
Image Referance: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16159937/yankees-world-series-winner-ken-clay-dead-cause-revealed/