"Look for the sport's best-fielding third baseman to move to shortstop in 1962. That would be Cletis Boyer, brother of Cards' Ken, possessor of baseball's quickest hands when they're stopping a batted ball.
Born in Cassville, Missouri, Boyer became Yankee in 1959, serving at Kansas City as a part-time teenage performer in '54 and '55. Nobody around can match him for amazing agility at third base."
-Don Schiffer, The 1962 Major League Baseball Handbook
"Yankee Stadium fans and those around the league have watched Clete Boyer make 'impossible' stops and still get his man. The newest magician in the game, Boyer is one of five brothers to play professional baseball. Best known, of course, is Ken, the great third baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals. While Ken swings a more potent bat, it is Clete who has become the master glove man at the hot corner.
Boyer, only 25, has shown real power at the plate, despite a lifetime batting average of .226. He has garnered 35 extra-base hits in each of his last two seasons. With the help he received from Joe DiMaggio and Wally Moses this spring and with the determination he has shown, Boyer is an almost sure bet to hike his batting average this season.
Manager Houk considered moving him to short, to plug the hole left by the Army call to Tony Kubek. And Boyer can play short, too. But the Yankee manager is anxious to keep his defensive star in his normal position. Last year was Clete's first full season as a regular third baseman and his defensive play gave the Yankees their strongest infield in many years. Boyer may well be the anchor man of a great infield for many years to come."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
Bonus player with Kansas City Athletics.
Brother of Ken Boyer of Cardinals and Cloyd Boyer, former pitcher for Cardinals.
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Fans around the nation got to see what American League fans had witnessed all season when they saw the 1961 World Series: the finest fielding third baseman in the game today, Clete Boyer.
To Clete, the hard play is routine, the impossible play, just another out. He blocks hard-hit grounders like a hockey goalie, dives through the air for liners and somehow always (or so it seems) manages to make the play.
The 25-year-old native of Cassville, MO, comes from a real baseball family. His brother, Ken, is one of the National League's All-Star performers with the St. Louis Cards, and another brother, Cloyd, hurled for the Athletics not too many seasons back.
Kansas City signed him to a bonus contract in 1955 and because of the then-existing rule, Clete was forced to spend two years with the Athletics when he could have been gaining valuable minor league experience.
The Yankees acquired Boyer during the winter of 1956-1957 and sent him to Binghamton of the Eastern League. He was with Richmond of the International League in 1958 and divided the '59 campaign between Richmond and the Stadium.
In 1960 Boyer became the Yankees' regular third sacker. During his first full season with the Bombers, Boyer hit .242 and smacked 14 homers. Last year his average dipped to .224, but he drove out 11 four-baggers and upped his RBIs from 46 to 55.
Now a resident of Webb City, MO, Cletis is married and the proud daddy of two. He stands an even six feet and weighs 180 pounds.
Boyer can play shortstop and second base, but the Yankees are happy having him at third where he can turn "sure doubles" into outs.
Coach Wally Moses worked with Boyer on his batting during the Spring and if he can pick up a few points, Clete may soon be an All-Star."
-The 1962 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
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