Horace Clarke

Clarke, a native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, took over for Bobby Richardson on the Yankees in 1967 and became one of the league’s more surehanded second basemen. His .990 fielding average led the AL at second base in 1967, and he set an AL record by leading in assists at second base six consecutive years, through 1972. He also led in putouts from 1968 through 1971. A durable switch-hitter, he played in at least 143 games every year from ’67 to 1973, and led the AL in at-bats in 1969-70. He had 151 career stolen bases. Though he never batted higher than .285, he was a pesky hitter; in 1970 he broke up three no-hitters in the ninth inning, thwarting bids by Joe Niekro, Sonny Siebert, and Jim Rooker.