As players marched off to WWII, Clay moved from utility man to full-timer in the
Reds' outfield. As his playing time increased, so did his defensive skills, and he
showed some speed on the bases.
(EW)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 21, 1944:
Reds OF Dain Clay has no chances in a 21-inning
doubleheader.
»April 17, 1945: Cincinnati opens the season with an 11-inning, 7–6 victory over the Pirates. The Reds offense was sparked by CF Dain Clay, who cracks a 5th inning grand slam: it will be his only home run this year in 645 at bats. Also in the 5th, with the Pirates leading 2–0 with two runners on, the Bucs runner at 2B, Frankie Zak, calls time to tie his shoe lace. The ump Ziggy Sears waves his arms, but Reds pitcher Bucky Walters doesn't see him and fires a pitch that Jim Russell hits for an apparent home run. The hit is disallowed, and the Bucs fail to score in the frame. Forty-six year old Hod Lisenbee, who had not appeared in the majors in nine years, works two innings of hitless relief to earn the win, the 37th and last of his career.
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