23 Facts About Donn Clendenon

Donn Alvin Clendenon was an American professional baseball player.

Donn Clendenon played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1961 to 1972.

Donn Clendenon is most notable for his performance during the 1969 World Series when he won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award by hitting three home runs to help lead the team known as the Miracle Mets to an upset victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Six months after Donn Clendenon was born in Neosho, Missouri, his father, Claude, died from leukemia.

Claude Donn Clendenon was a mathematics and psychology professor and chairman of the mathematics department at Langston University, an all-black school in Langston, Oklahoma.

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When he was six years old, Donn Clendenon's mother married former Negro league baseball player Nish Williams.

Williams served as a coach on nearly every baseball team that Donn Clendenon played on, including his college team at Atlanta's Morehouse College, and his semi-pro career with the Atlanta Black Crackers.

Donn Clendenon was prepared to attend UCLA on a scholarship until some coaches from Morehouse College in Atlanta visited his mother, and convinced her that he should attend a school closer to home.

Just before Donn Clendenon arrived in 1952, the freshman class were assigned "Big Brothers" to help the students acclimate themselves to Morehouse and college life.

Donn Clendenon became a twelve time letterman in football, basketball and baseball at Morehouse, and had received contract offers from both the Cleveland Browns and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Donn Clendenon decided he wanted to teach, and began teaching fourth grade upon graduation.

Williams convinced Donn Clendenon to attend a Pittsburgh Pirates try-out camp in 1957, and he signed with the team as an amateur free agent shortly afterwards.

Donn Clendenon drove in 96 and 98 in 1965 and 1966, respectively, and became a member of Pittsburgh's famed "Lumber Company" along with Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente.

Donn Clendenon earned a reputation as a "free swinger" as he led the league in strikeouts in 1963 and 1968, and finished second in 1966 and third in 1965.

Donn Clendenon had played under Walker in Pittsburgh—and Donn Clendenon considered Walker to be a racist.

Donn Clendenon threatened to retire rather than play for the Astros.

Donn Clendenon did not appear in the Mets' 1969 National League Championship Series three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

Donn Clendenon followed with a two-run home run to pull the Mets within a run.

Donn Clendenon caught on with the St Louis Cardinals for the 1972 season, but saw very limited playing time behind Matty Alou.

Donn Clendenon recounted the 1969 New York Mets season in his book, Miracle In New York, in which he talked about growing up in Atlanta, graduating from law school, and battling drug addiction as he neared his 50th birthday.

Donn Clendenon eventually entered a drug rehabilitation facility in Ogden, Utah, and during a physical examination in connection with his treatment, learned he had leukemia.

Donn Clendenon worked for many years as a chemical dependency counselor and was devoted to helping others in their recoveries.

Donn Clendenon died in Sioux Falls in 2005 at age 70 after a long bout with leukemia.