Coming out of Boulder City, Nev., Clemens signed on with Foothill College on a referral from a different school, he told The Reno Gazette-Journal.
"I called and contacted coach (Gene) Scattini," Clemens, the school's starting linebacker, explained to The Gazette-Journal in October 1986. "He said there would be kids from Nevada. He said they'd be a good bunch of kids."
Clemens then went on from his athletic experience at Foothill to his professional baseball career. He played seven seasons in the minors with three different organizations. He made it as high as AA, but not the majors.
Clemens baseball career began in 1988, taken by the Pirates in the 31st round of the draft out of Foothill College in California.
Clemens played a single season with the Pirates in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 15 games, hit .135 and was released.
He then signed for 1988 with the Cardinals, playing in the rookie Arizona League. He hit .267 there, over 47 games and made the league All-Star team. He also picked up two doubles and a triple in a July game.
Clemens played 1990 at single-A Springfield. He hit .272 in 105 games there. He then moved to unaffiliated Reno.
Arriving at Reno for 1991, The Gazette-Journal recorded Clemens' favorite movie, sports figure and minor league city as Dances With Wolves, Hulk Hogan and Springfield. "Great fans, nice people, great fishing," Clements told The Gazette-Journal of Springfield.
Clemens hit a run-scoring single in an August game and singled in another contest that month. He hit .224 in 69 games overall in 1991, largely playing catcher.
He then moved to the Giants system, playing 1992 and 1993 at high-A San Jose. He also saw three games at AA Shreveport in 1992. He went 3 for 4 in a May 1993 game, hitting .291 overall that year.
Clemens returned for one more season in 1994, getting 39 games at San Jose and four back at Shreveport, ending his professional career,
Clemens has since gone on to teach the game, including auctioning off a lesson for an elementary fund-raiser.
- Reno Gazette-Journal, Oct. 15, 1986: Gene Scattini
- Reno Gazette-Journal, April 28, 1991: Troy Clemens
Players/Coaches Featured: 2,628
Made the Majors:1,024-39.0%
Never Made Majors:1,604-61.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 425
10+ Seasons in the Minors:261
I saw him in San Jose. The SJ Giants have a between inning game called "smash the headlight." Kids from the stands are selected and player tries to hit the headlight of a truck and win money. My son was selected. Troy tried to break a headlight for his little brother but did not. When it as my son's turn, no player came out of dugout was several seconds until Troy came out and won $25 for my son. A wonderful moment for my family. Thanks, Troy.
ReplyDelete