Horace Clarke, a dependable though light-hitting second baseman for the Yankees who became indelibly and ingloriously associated with the team’s lean years in the 1960s and ’70s — what some sardonically labeled “the Horace Clarke era” — died on Wednesday at his home in Laurel, Md. He was 82.
His death was confirmed by the office of his cousin, Stacey E. Plaskett, the Democratic delegate who represents the Virgin Islands in Congress. His son Jeffrey said the cause was complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
At the time of his debut, in 1965, Clarke, an undersized middle infielder, was one of just five players born in the U.S. Virgin Islands to make it to the major leagues. He played 10 seasons in the majors, all but part of the last season for the Yankees.
What he lacked in power as a hitter — he had only 27 career home runs — he made up for with a sure-handed glove and excellent speed. His stolen-base totals were in double digits in seven seasons, and he was among the American League’s top 10 base stealers four times.
But he had the misfortune of joining the Yankees just as the team was about to tumble from the heights of greatness. Preceding his rookie season of 1965, the Yankees, led by the likes of Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, had won the American League pennant five straight seasons.
During Clarke’s 10-year tenure, however, New York failed to make the postseason once. The team wouldn’t get there again until 1976, two years after Clarke retired. In between came that so-called Horace Clarke era.
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