Clem Labine
The Brooklyn Dodgers' clutch relief ace whose forkball defined an era and helped deliver the franchise's only World Series title in 1955.
1926–2007 (age 81)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Clem Labine didn't just pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers; he embodied their gritty, blue-collar spirit. In an age when relievers were often failed starters, Labine carved out a vital, specialized role with a devastating forkball that dove into the dirt as batters swung over it. He was a workhorse, frequently pitching multiple innings to secure a win, a prototype for the modern closer. His moments are etched in baseball lore: saving Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series for the Yankees, and, most importantly, being on the mound for the final out in 1955 when the Dodgers—his Dodgers—finally beat the Yankees to win their first and only championship in Brooklyn. Labine's career bridged the coast-to-coast move of the franchise, and his effectiveness with the Pirates and Mets after leaving Los Angeles proved his skill was no fluke. He was a pitcher's pitcher, a man for the biggest moments when the game was on the line.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Clem was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clem Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Clem's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2007Died at 81
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Won two World Series championships, with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959.
- Pitched a total of 13 shutouts in his career, an unusually high number for a relief pitcher.
- Led the National League in saves in 1957 with 17.
- Recorded the save in Don Larsen's perfect game during the 1956 World Series.
Did You Know?
He was an accomplished artist and potter after his baseball career, studying at the Art Students League of New York.
He pitched in four different World Series for three different franchises (Dodgers, Pirates, Tigers).
His son, Clem Labine Jr., was a sportswriter for the Providence Journal.
“A forkball is a pitch of confidence, and you throw it with conviction.”
