Class of 2005
Clement Walter Labine, born in Lincoln, Rhode Island, enjoyed a 13-year major league baseball career. He was a Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher during their glory years of 1950 to 1957. When the team moved out west to Los Angeles, Clem moved with them and pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1958 to 1960.
He was one of the famed “Boys of Summer” from the Dodger teams that won five National League Championships (1950, ‘52, ‘53, ‘55, ‘56, and ‘59) and two World Series (‘55 and ‘59) during the 1950s.
A right-handed sinkerball pitcher, Clem pitched in his first major league game on April 18, 1950. He closed a supurb career by playing with the Detroit Tigers in 1960, Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 and ‘61, and the New York Mets in 1962.
During the 1955 championship season, when the Brooklyn Dodgers won their first-ever World Series over the New York Yankees, Clem led the Dodger relief corps with 13 wins and 11 saves against only 5 losses. His Earned Run Average during the 1955 season was 3.24. Although never a threat at bat, Clem’s only three hits in the 1955 season were all home runs.
Clem holds the Brooklyn Dodger record for the most games pitched (62) and the most games finished (47) in a single season–both in 1956. During the 1956 and 1957 seasons he had the most saves of any pitcher in the National League. He currently holds the record for the most World series games pitched (11) by a Dodger player, which he accomplished during the 1952, 1955, 1956 and 1959 seasons.
Over his 13-year career, Clem won 77 games, saved 96 games, and lost 56. In 1957 he was chosen for the National league All-Star team and pitched one inning in the game at Sportsman Park in St. Louis. Over the course of his career in Brooklyn, Clem retired Dodger-killer Stan Musial 49 consecutive times.
During his World Series performances in 1953, ‘55, ‘56, ‘59 and 1960 (Pittsburgh Pirates), Clem pitched in 13 games, won 2, saved 2, lost 2, had 1 shutout, and sported a 3.16 ERA. He is probably best remembered for his heroic 10-inning shutout Dodger victory against the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the 1956 World Series.
Clem was honored for his pitching career with the Dodgers by being elected to the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame in 1986.
After his baseball career ended, Clem worked as an executive for a clothing manufacturer and worked briefly in the banking industry.
