"It's been said that the kind of magic Clete Boyer performs with glove and arm at third base would keep him in the lineup, regardless of his hitting. But when his average sank down to about the level of his shoe tops last season, he finally had to be sent to the bench for a while. It was his clearly his poorest season at the plate since becoming a regular in 1960; Clete limped home with a .218 mark, after .272 and .251 years in '62 and '63."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1965
"When you mention the name of Clete Boyer to a Yankee fan, his eyes will generally sparkle with thoughts of the dazzling fielding gems turned in by the Bombers' third baseman. With quick hands and even quicker reflexes, Clete has earned the reputation of being the league's most spectacular hot corner guardian.
But he isn't satisfied with being an outstanding 'glove man.' He wants to improve on that lifetime .239 batting average that was brought to that low point by a .218 season in 1964. Clete worked long and hard this spring to improve his hitting and made marked strides in the spring games. But then he has done well before in the early going. This year the 28-year-old brother of the Cards' Ken hopes to keep that early hitting a feature of his full season.
Boyer was acquired by the Yankees in a big trade with Kansas City back in 1957 and was developed in the Yankee farm system. An older brother, Cloyd, is now the Yankees' minor league pitching coach, and a younger brother, Ronnie, is a prospect in the Yankees' minor league system.
Clete's greatness on the left side of the infield is with that magic glove. His patented plays back of third and those diving stops and throws to first from a kneeling position have earned the plaudits of fans everywhere."
-The New York Yankees Official 1965 Yearbook
"While retaining his copyright on being a veritable human vacuum cleaner at third base, Clete Boyer had just about his worst season at the plate in 1964. He batted only .218, hit eight homers and collected 52 RBI.
Though he has never approached the .300 mark during any campaign as a major leaguer, it was thought earlier in his career that Boyer would prove to be at least adequate at bat, thus enabling him to be carried because of his unusual ability as a fielder. It seemed he had arrived as a batter in 1962 when he hit .272, with 18 homers and 68 RBI. But in '63, Clete fell to .251, with 12 round trippers and 54 RBI. Then came last year's failure. There's not much question but that Boyer will have to pick up at the plate in '65, and the feeling around is that he definitely will.
Clete, the brother of National League MVP winner Ken Boyer of the Cardinals, became a Yankee on February 19, 1957 when he was traded by the Kansas City A's, along with pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz and Jack McMahan and first baseman Wayne Belardi to New York in exchange for pitchers Tom Morgan, Maurice McDermott and Rip Coleman, infielders Billy Hunter and Milt Graff and outfielder Irv Noren.
Boyer, however, had been a 1955 bonus baby with the A's, so he wasn't permitted to officially become Yankee property until June of '57, due to a ruling by the commissioner. He was immediately sent to the Bombers' Binghamton farm where he batted .243 for the balance of the '57 campaign. Performing for Richmond in '58, Clete hit .284. He then split the '59 campaign between by the Virginians and Yanks, hitting .224 for the minor league club and .175 for the parent team. In 1960 he became a full-time major leaguer and has been performing his miraculous feats at the hot corner ever since."
-Jay Publishing 1965 New York Yankees Yearbook
Acquired along with Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, Jack McMahon and Wayne Belardi from Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Rip Coleman, Tom Morgan, Maury McDermott, Billy Hunter, Milt Graff and Irv Noren, February 19, 1957.
Led American League third basemen in assists (373), 1961.
Led American League third basemen in assists (396), 1962.
Led American League third basemen in putouts (187), 1962.
Hit .291 during first half of 1963 season with 10 home runs (through July 5).
Second highest fielding average for American League third basemen (.968), 1964.
Brother of Ken Boyer of Cardinals, Cloyd Boyer, former pitcher for Cardinals and currently a pitching coach in Yankee farm system, and Ronnie Boyer, who signed a Yankee contract on May 30, 1962.
-1965 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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