Books and articles about Clem Labine

The free-spirited sinkerballer was one of baseball's premier relievers in the 1950s. The durable Labine helped the Dodgers to four pennants in Brooklyn and another in Los Angeles. Labine was 13-5 in a NL-leading 60 appearances for the 1955 World Champions and led the league in saves the next two seasons. He retired Dodger-killer Stan Musial 49 consecutive times. After leaving the Dodgers, Labine pitched for the Pirates in the 1960 WS.

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Two of Labine's brightest moments came in the unaccustomed role of a starter, a 10-0 victory over the Giants in the second game of the 1951 NL playoff and a 1-0 10-inning shutout of the Yankees in Game Six of the 1956 WS. Although never a threat at bat, Labine's three hits in 1955 were all home runs. (LAW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 28, 1951: The Dodgers edge the visiting Reds, 3–1, behind rookie Clem Labine. Duke Snider provides the offense off Howie Fox with a single and two-run homer, the latter breaking a tie in the 8th. » September 2, 1951: Don Mueller hits two more home runs, giving him five in two days, to tie an ML mark. His 2nd homer, again off Phil Haugstad, comes a minute after he learns he is a new father. Bobby Thomson adds his 25th homer and Jim Hearn beats the Dodgers 11–2. After Mueller's 2nd homer, Haugstad decks Thomson and hits Mays with a pitch, evoking a warning from Al Barlick. Barlick had earlier thumbed Branca and Dick Williams in the 5th inning, Newcombe in the 6th when he objected to a call, and Jackie Robinson and rookie Clem Labine. Dressen then clears his bench to avoid any more thumbings. The Giants move to five games behind Brooklyn. The Dodgers are suspicious of the losses at the Polo Grounds, and later there are revelations about signs being flashed to Giant batters from the CF scoreboard. Did it happen? Sal Yvars later said, "yes," while Mueller remarked, "as for my home runs and the sign stealing, this has been much talked about and I would prefer not to comment." On the Dodgers side, Buzzie Bavasi denied it occurred, but Clyde Walker concluded, "it did happen." » September 3, 1951: At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers sweep the Braves, winning both games 7–2, behind Carl Erskine and Clem Labine. Roy Campanella collects six straight hits, including his 30th and 31st homers, before being stopped. The Dodgers (84–47) lead is six games over the Giants (79–54). » September 11, 1951: Clem Labine blanks the Reds on two hits as the visiting Dodgers win, 7–0. Pafko drives in three runs on three singles. » September 16, 1951: In Chicago, the Dodgers beat up on the Cubs, winning, 6–1, behind rookie Clem Labine. Rookie Bob Kelly takes the loss, allowing six hits, including Gil Hodges #38. » September 21, 1951: In Brooklyn, the Dodgers keep a woozy Campanella on the bench, preferring to rest him for the World Series. Rookie Clem Labine ignores Dressen's orders to take a full windup, preferring to pitch out of the stretch with the bases jammed in the 1st. Phils 3B Willie Jones then hits a grand slam and Labine ends up in Dressen's doghouse. The Phils win, 9–6, behind Robin Roberts. » October 2, 1951: The Dodgers bounce back as rookie Clem Labine evens the playoff with a 10–0 win, besting the Giants' Sheldon Jones. Home runs are smashed by Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Andy Pafko, and Rube Walker. Willie Mays grounds into three double plays. » September 4, 1953: Despite consecutive HRs by Wes Westrum, Al Corwin, and Whitey Lockman in the 3rd, the Giants lose to the Dodgers 8-6 in a game marred by beanballs and disagreements on calls. Following a Clem Labine brushback on Giants IF Bobby Hofman, Larry Jansen throws at Duke Snider and Roy Campanella in the 8th. » September 30, 1953: The Yanks defeat Brooklyn 9-5 in the first game of the WS. Carl Erskine is ineffective, walking the first 3 batters who score on a Hank Bauer triple. The Dodgers tie it up 5-5, and Clem Labine gets the loss in relief. » August 1, 1954: Dodgers Clem Labine beans Joe Adcock in the fourth. Though he is wearing a batting helmet, Adcock is taken out of the game as a precautionary measure. His helmet apparently saves him from a serious injury. He will appear in the starting line-up the next day. Gene Conley reciprocates by knocking down Jackie Robinson in the sixth. Robinson ends up scrapping with Eddie Mathews. The Braves win 10-5, their 10th win in a row, as Conley runs his record to 10-5. » August 8, 1954: The Dodgers score an NL record 13 runs in the eighth off Cincinnati in Ebbets Field to win 20-8. Twelve of the runs are unearned. Gil Hodges gets a triple and a HR in the eighth, while P Clem Labine, who has a career .100 BA, walks twice. » September 9, 1955: After losing the opener to the Cubs, the Dodgers win the nitecap 16-9 as pitcher Clem Labine gets his 3rd HR of the year. Labine has just 3 hits all year, but all 3 are HRs. The Dodgers lead is now 161Ž2 games. » October 9, 1956: The Dodgers bounce back. Clem Labine comes out of the bullpen to pitch a 1-0 victory in 10 innings. Enos Slaughter misjudges Jackie Robinson's fly ball, and Jim Gilliam scores from 2B. » June 15, 1960: The Dodgers send another Brooklyn veteran packing when Clem Labine goes to the Tigers for P Ray Semproch. » August 17, 1960: Clem Labine, picked up yesterday after being released by Detroit, pitches three 2/3 innings of hitless ball for Pittsburgh to save a 5–3 win over the Phils. » October 8, 1960: Bombing continues in the Bronx in Game 3. Yankee Bobby Richardson's six RBI, including a grand slam off reliever Clem Labine in a 6-run first inning, and Whitey Ford's 4-hitter give the Yanks a 10–0 win and a 2-1 World Series lead, spoiling Pittsburgh manager Danny Murtaugh's 43rd birthday.