Clem Labine
Clem Labine (August 6, 1926 – March 2, 2007) was an American professional baseball pitcher who spent most of his 13-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career as a relief specialist for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, earning a reputation as a reliable closer during the 1950s and contributing to three World Series championships.[1][2] Born Clement Walter Labine in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to French-Canadian parents, he grew up in nearby Woonsocket and excelled in multiple sports at Woonsocket High School, including football, hockey, and baseball.[1] Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1944, Labine made his MLB debut on April 18, 1950, after brief minor league stints interrupted by military service.[1][2] Over his career, he appeared in 513 games, compiling a 77–56 win–loss record with a 3.63 earned run average (ERA) and 96 saves, while striking out 551 batters in 1,088⅓ innings pitched.[2] Labine played for the Dodgers from 1950 to 1960 (including their move to Los Angeles in 1958), followed by stints with the Detroit Tigers (1960), Pittsburgh Pirates (1960–1961), and New York Mets (1962).[2] A two-time National League All-Star (1956 and 1957), Labine led the league in saves twice, with 19 in 1956 and 17 in 1957, and set a Dodgers franchise record for games pitched (425) with the team.[1][2] He appeared in five World Series—four with the Dodgers (1953, 1955, 1956, 1959) and one with the Pirates (1960)—winning three: the 1955 and 1959 Dodgers titles, where he pitched crucial relief innings, and the 1960 Pirates upset over the New York Yankees.[1][2][3] After retiring, Labine worked in the clothing industry and banking, splitting time between Rhode Island and Vero Beach, Florida; he was married to Barbara and had five children.[1][3] Labine died on March 2, 2007, in Vero Beach from complications of pneumonia and congestive heart failure following strokes and brain surgery.[1][3]Early Life
Childhood and Family Background
Clement Walter Labine was born on August 6, 1926, in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to Aldor Joseph Labine and Henrietta V. Gauvin, both of French-Canadian descent whose families had immigrated from Quebec.[4][5] His father worked as a weaver in the textile mills, reflecting the immigrant labor that sustained the region's economy.[6] Soon after his birth, the family relocated to nearby Woonsocket, Rhode Island, a mill town where Labine spent his formative years in a tight-knit, working-class environment dominated by textile manufacturing and immigrant families.[6][3] Around the 1920s, Woonsocket's population was around 70 percent French-Canadian, creating a vibrant cultural hub with strong familial and communal ties centered on shared heritage and labor.[7] Raised in this predominantly Catholic community, Labine absorbed values of discipline, resilience, and faith that shaped his personal character from an early age.[8][9] He spoke only French until age seven, immersing him further in his family's cultural roots before transitioning to English-dominant schooling.[5] This upbringing in Woonsocket's French-Canadian enclave laid the groundwork for Labine's later pursuits in education and athletics during high school.[10]Education and Early Athletic Interests
Clem Labine attended Woonsocket High School in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, following his family's relocation there from nearby Lincoln after his birth.[1][5] At Woonsocket High, Labine engaged in a range of athletic pursuits, including football, hockey, and baseball, which helped build his competitive foundation and physical conditioning.[1] His involvement in these sports highlighted a robust athleticism well-suited to the demands of contact and team play, with baseball emerging as his primary interest amid these early experiences.[1] Labine's first organized baseball came through high school games and local youth play in Woonsocket, where he began honing his skills as a right-handed pitcher.[1][5] A pivotal moment in his pitching development occurred during his teenage years when he broke his right index finger; initially fearing the end of his baseball aspirations, he instead adapted, with coaching guidance turning the injury into an asset that imparted a sharp, left-hander-like break to his curveball.[1] This adaptation, combined with his steady physical maturation into a tall, durable frame during adolescence, strengthened his throwing mechanics and set the stage for greater scouting interest in his raw talent.[1]Military Service
Clement Walter Labine enlisted in the United States Army on December 14, 1944, in Providence, Rhode Island, shortly after signing a professional baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers earlier that year.[11][12] At the time, he was an 18-year-old recent high school graduate from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, whose pre-service athletic interests in baseball and other sports had already honed his physical fitness, providing a foundation for the rigors ahead.[13] Labine volunteered for paratrooper training and served in the Army during the final stages of World War II, primarily in the European theater, where he completed 23 parachute jumps over more than two years of active duty.[14] This service interrupted his budding athletic career, as he missed the entire 1945 season and most of 1946, forcing a pause in professional development. The intense physical demands of paratrooper training and operations, combined with the strict military discipline, contributed significantly to his personal growth, fostering maturity and resilience that he later credited for his composure under pressure.[15][16] Labine received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1946 and returned to civilian life in Rhode Island, resuming his baseball pursuits soon after.[17] His wartime experiences as a paratrooper not only enhanced his physical conditioning but also instilled a sense of discipline that shaped his approach to future challenges.[14]Minor League Career
Initial Signing and Development
Clement Labine signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1944 as an amateur free agent, shortly after graduating from Woonsocket High School in Rhode Island, following a failed tryout with the Boston Braves.[18] Branch Rickey, the Dodgers' general manager, and scout Chuck Dressen identified his potential as a right-handed pitcher during this period.[18] Labine was immediately assigned to the Class B Newport News Dodgers in the Piedmont League, where he made 12 appearances as a starter, posting a 2-4 record with a 4.18 ERA over 56 innings pitched.[19] His early development was interrupted by military service in 1945, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained as a paratrooper, an experience that built his physical endurance beneficial for sustained pitching workloads.[18] Returning in 1946, Labine rejoined Newport News for a brief stint, appearing in 3 games with a 1-0 record and 2.57 ERA in 14 innings, primarily in relief roles.[19] By 1947, he split time across three teams in the Dodgers' system—Class B Newport News (Piedmont League) and Asheville Tourists (Tri-State League), plus Class A Greenville Spinners (South Atlantic League)—where he refined his skills as a starter, achieving a standout 6-0 record with a 2.07 ERA in 8 games for Asheville, though he struggled with Greenville (1-2 record) and Newport News (0-2).[18][19] This season marked a combined 7-4 record across affiliations, demonstrating growing consistency despite the transitions.[18] Labine's progression accelerated in 1948 with assignment to the Class A Pueblo Dodgers in the Western League, where he transitioned toward a hybrid starter-reliever role, logging 13-10 with a 4.32 ERA in 28 starts over 196 innings.[19] However, challenges emerged, including adaptation difficulties from pure starting duties and a lingering injury from an earlier broken right index finger, which forced adjustments to his curveball grip and overall mechanics.[18] In 1949, promoted to Triple-A St. Paul Saints in the American Association, he embraced more relief opportunities in 64 appearances (only 8 starts), finishing 12-6 with a 3.50 ERA in 139 innings, though minor setbacks like arm soreness hampered full consistency.[19] These years honed his sinker and specialized "cunny thumb" curve, preparing him for a major league relief specialization.[18]Key Minor League Seasons
In 1950, following a brief and unsuccessful major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 18, where he allowed one run in two innings, Labine was optioned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints of the American Association.[1] There, he transitioned toward a more versatile role, appearing in 37 games with 13 starts and posting an 11-7 record with a 4.99 ERA over 128 innings.[19] This season marked a period of adjustment for Labine, who refined his sinkerball and an unorthodox curveball—nicknamed the "cunny thumb"—which broke sharply like a left-hander's due to a childhood broken finger that altered his grip.[1] After the regular season, he honed these pitches further in winter ball with the Magallanes Navigators of the Venezuelan League, achieving a 13-4 record and 1.95 ERA in 24 games while striking out 93 batters.[1] Labine's performance improved significantly in 1951 with the Saints, where he made 20 appearances—primarily as a starter—and compiled a 9-6 record with a 2.62 ERA across 117 innings.[19][1] Scouting evaluations highlighted his enhanced control and stamina, noting his ability to maintain effectiveness in longer outings and his deceptive curveball that complemented his sinking fastball.[1] These attributes, combined with his prior minor league consistency, prompted the Dodgers to recall him in July 1951, paving the way for his permanent establishment in the major leagues.[1]Major League Career
Brooklyn Dodgers Tenure
Clem Labine made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 18, 1950, pitching the final two innings of a 9-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Field, during which he allowed one run.[1] After this initial relief appearance, he was sent back to the minors but was recalled the following year, marking the start of his steady rise in the Dodgers' bullpen.[1] From 1951 to 1954, Labine established himself as a key reliever for the Dodgers, appearing in at least 37 games each season and contributing to their National League pennant runs. In 1951, he posted a 5-1 record with a 2.20 ERA over 65 innings, including a 6-hit shutout in Game 2 of the National League playoff against the New York Giants.[1] His most effective year came in 1953, when he went 11-6 with a 2.77 ERA in 110.1 innings across 37 appearances, recording 7 saves while helping the Dodgers reach the World Series.[2] Labine appeared in two games of that Fall Classic against the New York Yankees, though the Dodgers fell in six games.[1] Labine's contributions peaked in 1955, as he led the National League with 60 appearances, finishing with a 13-5 record, 3.24 ERA, and 11 saves over 144.1 innings, solidifying his role as the team's primary closer during their pennant-winning season.[1] In the World Series against the Yankees, he earned 1 win and 1 save across four appearances, posting a 2.89 ERA in 9.1 innings, including a crucial save in Game 5 that helped secure the Dodgers' first and only Brooklyn-era championship.[20] Selected to the 1956 National League All-Star team, Labine led the league with 19 saves and appeared in 47 games finished, going 10-6 with a 3.35 ERA in 115.2 innings during the regular season.[1] In the World Series rematch with the Yankees, he delivered a standout performance in Game 6 on October 9 at Ebbets Field, relieving starter Don Newcombe in the first inning and pitching 10 scoreless innings to earn the 1-0 victory on Jackie Robinson's walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, forcing a decisive Game 7.[21] Despite the Dodgers' loss in the finale, Labine's effort preserved their title hopes.[22] Labine remained a reliable presence in the Dodgers' bullpen from 1957 to 1960, leading the National League with 17 saves in 1957 while posting a 5-7 record and 3.44 ERA in 104.2 innings.[1] Following the team's relocation to Los Angeles after the 1957 season, he adapted to the West Coast in 1958, recording 14 saves with a 6-6 mark and 4.15 ERA over 104 innings.[2] In 1959, amid the Dodgers' return to the World Series, Labine appeared in 56 games with 9 saves, a 5-10 record, and 3.93 ERA in 84.2 innings; he pitched one scoreless inning in the Fall Classic victory over the Chicago White Sox.[1] He set a Dodgers franchise record for games pitched (425) over his tenure with the team. His Dodgers tenure ended in 1960 after limited action (0-1, 5.82 ERA in 17 innings), leading to a midseason trade.[2]Transitions to Other Teams
In June 1960, Labine was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitcher Ray Semproch and cash considerations.[1] His time with the Tigers was limited, appearing in 14 games with a 0-3 record and a 5.12 ERA over 19.1 innings, reflecting a decline from his earlier successes as a reliable reliever.[2] Released by Detroit on August 15, 1960, he quickly signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates the following day.[23] With the Pirates in 1960, Labine provided brief but effective relief, posting a 3-0 record with three saves in 15 appearances and a 1.42 ERA, helping stabilize the bullpen late in the season.[24] He remained on the roster as Pittsburgh upset the New York Yankees to win the World Series, though he did not appear in the postseason games themselves.[1] Labine returned to the Pirates for the 1961 season, where he resumed a more prominent relief role, appearing in 56 games with a 4-1 record, 3.69 ERA, and eight saves over 92.2 innings.[2] Released by Pittsburgh on October 17, 1961, Labine signed with the expansion New York Mets as a free agent on February 16, 1962.[23] His stint with the struggling Mets was short-lived and ineffective, limited to three appearances in April with a 0-0 record and an 11.25 ERA in four innings before his release on May 1.[24] At age 35, facing diminishing effectiveness and no further offers, Labine retired from professional baseball after the 1962 season.[1]Overall Statistical Overview
Clem Labine pitched in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1962, appearing in 513 games with a career record of 77 wins and 56 losses, a 3.63 earned run average (ERA), and 94 saves.[2] Primarily a reliever after his early seasons, he logged 1,079.2 innings across 38 starts and 475 relief outings, striking out 551 batters while walking 407 for a career WHIP of 1.333.[2] His adjusted ERA+ of 112 reflects above-average effectiveness relative to league norms during an era when relief pitching was transitioning toward specialized roles.[2] Labine's statistics varied by team, with his most productive years spent with the Brooklyn Dodgers (later Los Angeles Dodgers), where he established himself as a reliable closer. The following table summarizes his performance aggregated by primary affiliations:| Team (Years) | W-L Record | ERA | G | SV | IP | SO | WHIP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers (1950-1957) | 59-35 | 3.36 | 304 | 58 | 727.0 | 378 | 1.265 | Led NL in saves in 1956 (19) and 1957 (17); peak 1955 season: 13-5, 3.24 ERA, 11 SV.[2] |
| Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1959) | 11-16 | 4.05 | 108 | 22 | 188.2 | 80 | 1.381 | Continued as primary reliever post-move to West Coast.[2] |
| Multiple Teams (1960: LAD/DET/PIT; 1961: PIT) | 7-5 | 3.67 | 98 | 14 | 159.1 | 91 | 1.519 | Solid relief contributor amid trades; 1961: 4-1, 3.69 ERA, 8 SV with Pirates.[2] |
| New York Mets (1962) | 0-0 | 11.25 | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | 2 | 1.500 | Brief, ineffective stint to close career.[2] |