MLB

David Clyde Signals Concerns About Youth Baseball Practices

In 1973, straight out of high school where he pitched five no-hitters as a senior, David Clyde made the leap to the Texas Rangers.
David Clyde Signals Concerns About Youth Baseball Practices
Jackson Surma #22 of Team Michigan celebrates hitting a two-run double in the fifth inning of the 2021 Little League World Series against Team Ohio at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 29, 2021. Joshua Bessex/Getty Images
Donald Laible
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Parents whose children are playing amateur baseball—particularly travel ball—could learn a lot from David Clyde’s wisdom.

While he was a kid growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, nothing was going to stop Clyde from loving baseball. Watching the hometown Athletics challenge the mighty New York Yankees in the 1960s only reinforced his desire to be a Big League pitcher. The future MLB phenom never lost sight of that goal, even after his hero Mickey Mantle hurled a few expletives his way after a request for an autograph.

Donald Laible
Donald Laible
Author
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.