Clay Carroll
Encyclopedia
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves
, Cincinnati Reds
, St. Louis Cardinals
and Pittsburgh Pirates
, all of the National League
, and the Chicago White Sox
of the American League
.
Carroll, nicknamed "the Hawk" was elected to the National League All-Star team in and . He led the National League in saves
in 1972 with 37, and finished tied for fifth in the Cy Young Award
voting. The 37 saves stood as a National League record until Bruce Sutter
broke it in 1984 with 45 saves pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Carroll's best seasons were with the Reds, who he pitched for from 1968 to 1975 which earned him a place in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Carroll pitched in three World Series for Cincinnati including the 1975 World Series which the Reds beat Boston 4 games to 3. Carroll starred in the 1970 World Series as he appeared in five of the six games, hurling 9 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts to buyou a staff that otherwise struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness against Baltimore. Carroll was the winning pitcher in the Reds' only victory against the Orioles. Overall, Carroll had a stunning 1.39 ERA
in 22 postseason appearances, allowing just five earned runs in 32.3 innings.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, all of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
Carroll, nicknamed "the Hawk" was elected to the National League All-Star team in and . He led the National League in saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
in 1972 with 37, and finished tied for fifth in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting. The 37 saves stood as a National League record until Bruce Sutter
Bruce Sutter
Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter....
broke it in 1984 with 45 saves pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Carroll's best seasons were with the Reds, who he pitched for from 1968 to 1975 which earned him a place in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Carroll pitched in three World Series for Cincinnati including the 1975 World Series which the Reds beat Boston 4 games to 3. Carroll starred in the 1970 World Series as he appeared in five of the six games, hurling 9 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts to buyou a staff that otherwise struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness against Baltimore. Carroll was the winning pitcher in the Reds' only victory against the Orioles. Overall, Carroll had a stunning 1.39 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 22 postseason appearances, allowing just five earned runs in 32.3 innings.
See also
- TSN Reliever of the YearThe Sporting News Reliever of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News as TSN Fireman of the Year Award. The award originally recognized the best closer from each league, but in 2001 the award was broadened to include all relievers...
- Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders