sold to the San Diego Padres on May 31, 1974, for $25,000. He retired at the end of the 1974 season. Clarke finished his decade-long career with a .256 batting average, 27 home runs and 304 RBI. As one of the most well-known faces of the Yankees' teams from 1967 to 1973, that period in Yankees' history has been referred to as "The Horace Clarke Era." As a fielder, though, one major criticism of Clarke was that he would eschew turning the double play if the runner at second was approaching. Though it was rare for a baserunner to take him out with a slide, Clarke would often hold onto the baseball instead of throwing to first to complete the double play. This impression was obviously incorrect as Horace led the American League second basemen in turning double plays in 1969 and 1972. He finished in the AL top 5 in double plays from 1967 to 1973.He also led AL second basemen in putouts and assists from 1967 to 1972. Clarke also had a distinctive batting stance with his legs wide far apart. Later life After his retirement, Clarke worked as a baseball instructor for the Virgin Islands Department of Recreation and as an assistant scout for the Kansas City Royals. Both his sons – Jeff and Jason (J.D.) – went on to play in the minor leagues. Clarke died on August 5, 2020, at his home in Laurel, Maryland. He was 81, and suffered from complications of Alzheimer's disease. References Further reading Vecsey, George (1967) "Horace Clarke Bringing the Yankees Home". News York Newsday. McCarron, Anthony (April 17, 2010). "Clarke Recalls His 'Era'". New York Daily News. Costello, Rory (January 4, 2012). "Horace Clarke". SABR. Staff (September 2018). "Phebe Clarke 1943–2018". Battle Creek Enquirer. Sources Baseball Almanac Horace Clarke - Baseball Biography 1939 births 2020 deaths Major League Baseball second basemen New York Yankees players San Diego Padres players Toledo Mud Hens players Kearney Yankees players St. Petersburg Saints players Binghamton Triplets players Richmond Virginians (minor league) players Fargo-Moorhead Twins players Amarillo Gold Sox players Major League Baseball players from the United States Virgin Islands African-American baseball players People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands American people of United States Virgin Islands descent 20th-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century African-American people