1973 Profile: Horace Clarke

"Hoss. A solid second baseman of modest skills and modest ambitions, Clarke had his best season defensively as the Yankees led the league in double plays; once weak on the pivot, he has worked on it.
Horace is a dangerous offensive player. He's a good leadoff man who can slap the ball around, and is a fine baserunner. A pesky hitter, he broke up three no-hitters in the ninth inning within one month in 1970.
Born June 2, 1940 in St. Croix, he became a switch-hitter by geographical necessity. The only baseball field where he lived was surrounded by the Caribbean, so righthanders batted lefthanded and lefthanders batted righthanded to preserve the baseball. He's only the fourth Virgin Islander to play in the big leagues.
Horace taught himself to play the vibes, and once performed in a steel band for tourists in his hometown."

-Joe Gergen, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1973 Edition

"Thought of most often as an offensive ball player, Horace Clarke last season won long overdue recognition as an outstanding defensive player. He led the league's second basemen in assists last year and in total chances accepted. In addition, he topped all other second basemen in turning over double plays. Horace and his partner, Gene Michael, were the best DP combination in the American League in 1972. Last year marked the sixth consecutive season (a major league record) that Horace led the league's second basemen in assists. Only Detroit's Hall of Fame second baseman Charlie Gehringer has done better.
His 139 stolen bases attest to his skill as a baserunner, placing him tenth on the all-time Yankee list.
Consistency has been a Clarke characteristic. He plays virtually every game all season long, averaging better than 600 at-bats over the last half dozen seasons.
This gentle man from the Virgin Islands has made his mark in major league baseball. But before returning to take up life in St. Croix with his wife and son, Horace would like to contribute to a Yankee championship or two, commencing this season. In his own quiet way, the satisfaction of the accomplishment would surely show through."

-The New York Yankees Official 1973 Yearbook

"'Hoss' enjoyed the best all-around season of his career in 1972. He was steady with the bat and outstanding in the field.
He led the league in assists (399) and total chances (757). This marked the sixth consecutive year Horace topped the league in assists at second base - a major league record. Only Charlie Gehringer, Detroit's Hall of Fame second baseman, led the league more times - seven - but not consecutively. It was also the fifth year in succession that Horace led the league at his position in total chances. He was first among all A.L. second basemen in double plays, teaming with Gene Michael to form an outstanding DP team. Clarke has now been the Yanks' regular at the keystone sack for six years. Originally signed as a shortstop, Horace has played three infield positions with the Yanks, including 63 games at shortstop in 1966, before replacing Bobby Richardson at second in 1967.
One of the best baserunners in the game, he has 139 lifetime stolen bases, which is tenth on the all-time Yankee list. Although not noted for his power hitting, his first two homers in the major leagues were both grand slams. Another distinction of Horace's is that he broke up three no-hitters in the ninth inning in one month during the 1970 season, as he spoiled no-hit bids by Joe Niekro, Sonny Siebert and Jim Rooker."

-1973 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide