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Former New York Yankees pitcher Ken Clay has passed away at the age of 71. According to a report by the Associated Press, a director at the Centra Heart & Vascular Institute in Lynchburg, Virginia, broke the news to the Yankees organization. The executive claims that Clay was dealing with heart and kidney issues leading up to his death.
Born in Lynchburg, Clay was selected in the second round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft by New York. After five seasons in the minors, the pitcher finally earned a spot on the Yankees roster in 1977. Timing could not be better as New York was in first place in the American League East. Although he initially struggled as a starter, Clay was much more effective coming out of the bullpen for manager Billy Martin.
After featuring in 21 games during the 1977 regular season, Clay was named to the postseason roster. Interestingly enough, the youngster pitched in both of New York’s losses in the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nevertheless, Clay was not necessarily at fault for the defeats. Overall, he allowed just one run in 3 2/3 innings of work during the Fall Classic.
A year later, Clay was fairly crucial in getting the Yankees back to the World Series. The reliever entered game one of the 1978 American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning with bases loaded. Clay ultimately avoided disaster, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings and picking up a save in the big win. New York eventually went on to win the championship for the second consecutive season.
New York Yankees Management Previously Clashed with Ken Clay
GettyFormer Yankees owner George Steinbrenner ultimately traded Ken Clay in 1980.
After winning the two World Series titles, Clay struggled during the 1979 season. Martin and former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner publicly criticized the former top prospect for underachieving. According to a 1979 New York Times article, Martin lambasted Clay to the press. “He wasn’t pitching the ball; he was aiming it,” claimed the coach. “He was pitching to hitters just the opposite of how he was supposed to pitch them.”
Steinbrenner was perhaps even harsher at the time. “Kenny Clay is a morning glory,” proclaimed the team’s owner. “He spit the bit. He doesn’t have the courage. That may be harsh, but that’s the way I feel.”
Because of the ongoing issues, New York actually used the reliever as trade bait in the deal to acquire Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry in 1980. Clay finished out his MLB career with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
Former Yankees Pitcher had Several Run-ins with the Law
Unfortunately, Clay faced a series of legal problems after hanging up his cleats. Campbell County, Virginia prosecutors convicted Clay in 1988 for stealing $16,000 from a former employer. While he initially faced significant prison time, the former Yankee ultimately received probation and community service for the incident.
Nevertheless, Clay later spent several stints in prison for various crimes. These offenses included various counts of grand theft and identity theft. He most recently spent five years in a Florida prison from 2007 to 2012. Clay made 115 total MLB appearances as a pitcher during his five-year career in the big leagues.
Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore
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