| Clay Carroll | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1941-05-02)May 2, 1941 (age 84) Clanton, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 1964, for the Milwaukee Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1978, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 96–73 |
| Earned run average | 2.94 |
| Strikeouts | 681 |
| Saves | 143 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Clay Palmer Carroll (born May 2, 1941) is an American former professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as a right-handedpitcher from1964 through1978, most notably as a member of theCincinnati Reds dynasty that won three division titles, oneNational League pennant and the1975 World Series title. He also played for theMilwaukee / Atlanta Braves,Chicago White Sox,St. Louis Cardinals and thePittsburgh Pirates.
A two-timeAll-Star, Carroll was one of the toprelief pitchers in Major League Baseball during the mid-1970s when the Cincinnati Reds became known as theBig Red Machine for their dominance of the National League.[1] In 1972, Carroll led the National League in saves and was namedThe Sporting News Fireman of the Year. He ranks third all-time among Red pitchers in game appearances.[1] Carroll was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1980.[1]
Carroll was one of nine children of acotton mill worker who died in 1966.[2] Growing up inClanton, Alabama, Carroll went toChilton County High School and also worked many jobs, including as a curb-service boy at a restaurant, at the cotton mill where his father worked, and loading watermelons onto trucks.[3]
Carroll was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1961,[4] and made his major league debut at age 23 on September 2, 1964, hurling two shutout innings against the Cardinals.[5]
Carroll was acquired along withTony Cloninger andWoody Woodward by the Reds from the Atlanta Braves forMilt Pappas,Bob Johnson andTed Davidson on June 11, 1968.[6] Nicknamed "Hawk" due to his profile likeness of the bird, he was selected to theNational League All-Star team in1971 and1972. He led the National League insaves in 1972 with 37, and finished tied for fifth in theCy Young Award voting. The 37 saves stood as a National League record untilBruce Sutter broke it in 1984 with 45 saves for theSt. Louis Cardinals. He was selected as the Sporting News Reliever of the Year in 1972 for the National League.[7]
Carroll's best seasons were with the Reds from 1968 to 1975, which earned him a place in theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Carroll pitched in threeWorld Series for the Reds, including the1975 World Series which the Reds won in seven games over theBoston Red Sox. Carroll starred in the1970 World Series. He appeared in five of the six games, hurling nine shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. Carroll, along with rookieDon Gullett, paced an injury-riddled staff that was otherwise ineffective against Baltimore. Carroll was the winning pitcher in the Reds' only victory against the Orioles. Overall in the postseason, Carroll boasted a 4-2 record with two saves, a blown save, and a 1.39ERA in 22 appearances, allowing just fiveearned runs in32+1⁄3 innings.
He was traded by the Reds to theChicago White Sox forRich Hinton and minor league catcher Jeff Sovern on December 12, 1975.[8] After going 4–4 with six saves and a 2.56 ERA in 29 appearances with the White Sox, he was dealt to theCardinals forLerrin LaGrow duringspring training on March 23, 1977.[9]
Carroll and his ex-wife Judy are the parents of two daughters, Connie and Lori, along with a son, Brett (sometimes reported as Bret).[2][10] The Carrolls divorced in 1981.[11]
In 1983 Carroll married Frances Nowitzke, a widow with children of her own.[11][10] During a November 1985 shooting in their home inBradenton, Florida, Carroll was wounded, and his wife Frances, 53, and Carroll's son Bret(t), 11, were shot and killed, by Frances's 26 year old son, Frederick.[12][13][14] Carroll's stepson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Florida’s electric chair. Several years later a new trial was ordered, at which Frederick was given a life sentence he continues to serve.[15][16][17][18]
Carroll frequently returns toCincinnati for the team's annual RedsFest event, including in December 2012.[19] He is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.[20]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)