Clint Courtney
Born: 3/16/1927 in Hall Summit, LA, USA
Died: 6/16/1975 in Rochester, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1951-09-29 | Final Game: 1961-06-24
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Clinton Dawson Courtney
Biography
Clint Courtney was a professional baseball player born in 1927 who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1961. Known primarily as a position player, Courtney played in 946 games throughout his career, achieving 750 hits and a batting average of .268. He contributed 38 home runs and 313 runs batted in (RBIs), showcasing his ability to drive in runs and support his team offensively. His playing style was characterized by a solid approach at the plate, which earned him recognition as TSN Rookie of the Year during his debut season.
Courtney's career unfolded during an era of significant change in baseball, transitioning from the tail end of the deadball era into a more modern offensive game. While he may not have been among the most celebrated stars of his time, his consistent contributions and reliable performance solidified his role within the teams he played for. With a total of 3 stolen bases, he demonstrated the capacity to add versatility to his game, though he was primarily known for his hitting prowess. Clint Courtney's legacy is marked by his dedication to the sport and his impact on the teams he represented throughout his decade-long career.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 946 | 2796 | 260 | 750 | 126 | 17 | 38 | 313 | 3 | 264 | 143 | 0.268 | 0.339 | 0.366 | 0.705 | -878.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1952 | SLA | AL | 119 | 413 | 38 | 118 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 39 | 26 | 0.286 | 513.4 |
| 1953 | SLA | AL | 106 | 355 | 28 | 89 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 25 | 20 | 0.251 | -978.2 |
| 1954 | BAL | AL | 122 | 397 | 25 | 107 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 2 | 30 | 7 | 0.270 | -448.4 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 19 | 37 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.378 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 75 | 238 | 26 | 71 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 0.298 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | WSN | AL | 101 | 283 | 31 | 85 | 20 | 3 | 5 | 44 | 0 | 20 | 10 | 0.300 | 572.9 |
| 1957 | WSN | AL | 91 | 232 | 23 | 62 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0.267 | 330.6 |
| 1958 | WSN | AL | 134 | 450 | 46 | 113 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 62 | 1 | 48 | 23 | 0.251 | -396.1 |
| 1959 | WSN | AL | 72 | 189 | 19 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 20 | 19 | 0.233 | -485.6 |
| 1960 | BAL | AL | 83 | 154 | 14 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 30 | 14 | 0.227 | -80.6 |
| 1961 | BAL | AL | 22 | 45 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0.267 | 33.5 |
| 1961 | KC1 | AL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 33.5 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 802 | 516 | 3556 | 379 | 50 | 63 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | NYA | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | SLA | C | 113 | 0 | 487 | 69 | 2 | 7 |
| 1953 | SLA | C | 103 | 0 | 436 | 47 | 10 | 7 |
| 1954 | BAL | C | 111 | 105 | 539 | 53 | 6 | 8 |
| 1955 | CHA | C | 17 | 10 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 1955 | WS1 | C | 67 | 61 | 252 | 29 | 5 | 4 |
| 1956 | WS1 | C | 76 | 66 | 290 | 35 | 7 | 7 |
| 1957 | WS1 | C | 59 | 51 | 288 | 35 | 2 | 6 |
| 1958 | WS1 | C | 128 | 122 | 682 | 64 | 7 | 17 |
| 1959 | WS1 | C | 53 | 48 | 213 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 1960 | BAL | C | 58 | 43 | 246 | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| 1961 | BAL | C | 16 | 10 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 803 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 7.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1952 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 8.0 | 24 | 8 |