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Jack Clifton In Goldsboro, NC
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While looking for information about Jack Clifton in Goldsboro, North Carolina, I
came across a number of articles about Clifton’s early career. |
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The Goldsboro Argus first mentions Harry Clifton (they too call him Jack Clifton)
in August of 1940 when Clifton made his first appearance as the Goldsboro Goldbug’s right fielder. |
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Jack Clifton, 1941
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A few games later, Jack Clifton made his first pitching appearance in relief, allowing
one hit in one inning pitched. |
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Granted, this illegible box score is almost impossible to decipher, but the highlighted
pitcher is Jack Clifton and this was his first professional start in late August, 1940. |
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In 1941, the Bugs started the year without Jack Clifton, but he would join them by
May. His teammates on Goldsboro were, top row (l to r) Cliff Cohn, Sylvester Sturges, Ben McElhaney, Mack Arnette, Sam Patten. Front row (l to r) are Harry Humphrey, Sandy Peele, T. R. Vick, and Louis DiGaetano. |
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The Goldbugs had a good spot pitcher in Clifton, but they rally valued his bat. Clifton’s
hitting kept him in the outfield. |
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Clifton joined the Goldbugs in May and quickly became a dominant hitter. Despite
his late start, Clifton quickly gained enough plate appearances to become the league’s leading hitter. He remained the league’s leading batter throughout the summer, and was selected to the Coastal League’s all star game. |
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Clifton played all nine innings in right field for the South all stars.
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As August drew to a close, Clifton was far and away the league’s best hitter.
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Recently I’ve developed an interest in the old Alabama-Florida League. Your
site has quickly become a favorite. I’ve got two boys, ages 10 and 12, and they’re both fairly decent ball players, and I’m trying to show them that there was some fine baseball played in these parts in years past. There’s also been a slight increase in interest in minor league ball lately with the single « A » Savannah teams’ interest in re-locating here in Panama City. I’ve got a question for you. My dad insists that Haywood Sullivan (former member of the Boston Red Sox and past quarterback of the Florida Gators) played for the Graceville Oilers. I told him that I found no mention of him in your archive. He said that perhaps Sullivan played as an « unpaid » player prior to attending U of F where he undoubtedly must have played some college baseball as well. I was wondering if you could clear that up. – Lee Casey (To answer |