Curtis Leroy "Clank" Blefary (July 5, 1943 – January 28, 2001) was an American professional baseball left fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1965–1968), Houston Astros (1969), New York Yankees (1970–1971), Oakland Athletics (1971–1972) and the San Diego Padres (1972). A native of Brooklyn, New York, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
He was the 1965 Rookie of the Year. In 1969, he and teammate Don Wilson became the first interracial roommates in National League history.
Early life
Blefary was born on July 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. As a senior, he switched from playing third base to playing catcher.
Baseball career
Artie Dede, the five boroughs of New York City scout for the New York Yankees, looked at Blefary while visiting the Wagner College freshman team in 1962. Blefary had just won the Most Valuable Player award at Wagner during the 1962 season, hitting .338 in 17 games and led the Metropolitan Conference in fielding percentage. Having just moved to New Shrewsbury, New Jersey, Blefary started playing with the Jersey Shore Baseball League's Old Union House team. On June 18, 1962, Dede and John H. Johnson, the farm director, came to Blefary's house in New Shrewsbury and signed him to his first professional contract. The bonus involved was the highest the Yankees had given any player in the 1962 season.
Minor leagues
In 1962, he was assigned to the Yankees Class-B team in Greensboro and played there in 1962-63, but the Yankees waived him in April 1963, and the Orioles claimed him. He played in the Orioles minor league system in 1963-64. He had his first professional experience playing catcher for the 1963 Elmira Pioneers, under future Orioles manager Earl Weaver.
Baltimore Orioles
In his debut year with the Orioles in , Blefary hit .260 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs, winning both the American League Rookie of the Year and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards.
During the 1965 Winter Meetings, he was one of three players along with Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun whose names were originally submitted by the Cincinnati Reds in discussions of any transaction which would have sent Frank Robinson to Baltimore, but the Orioles balked at trading Blefary. Dick Simpson was sent to the Reds instead of Blefary to complete the deal. The following season, he was a member of the Orioles team that won the 1966 World Series. Blefary principally played left field (and 20 games at first base), hitting .255, with 23 home runs, 64 RBIs, 73 runs and an .839 OPS.
thumb|160px|left|Blefary in 1967
Nicknamed "Clank" by Frank Robinson because of his below-average fielding abilities, Blefary started his career in the outfield, tried at first base, then switched to catcher, in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup. In 1967, he played over 100 games in the outfield (both right and left field) and over 50 games at first base. Blefary hit .242, with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs. On June 6, 1967, Blefary hit three home runs in a game against the California Angels, with 7 RBIs.
In 1968, Blefary not only played the outfield and first base, but played 40 games at catcher, being moved to catcher by Orioles manager Hank Bauer. His batting average fell to .200 for the 1968 season, however, and he hit only 15 home runs with 39 RBIs in 451 at bats. Earl Weaver replaced Bauer as Orioles' manager in 1968, and considered Blefary's ability to play different positions valuable, even if his hitting declined for this one year. Blaming his constant defensive shuffling for his offensive decline, Blefary was traded to Houston in December 1968, in the deal that brought Mike Cuellar to the Orioles. Blefary said at the time that Weaver never appreciated his efforts, and was not surprised to be traded. In 1969 with the Astros, Blefary and teammate Don Wilson became the first interracial roommates in National League history. Blefary was used as a part-time player by the Yankees. He played in 99 games, batting .212 in 269 at bats with only nine home runs. He was dealt from the Yankees to the Oakland Athletics for Rob Gardner and Darrell Osteen on May 25, . He was sent to the Padres in .
Personal life
After retiring in 1972, he tried unsuccessfully to continue his career in baseball as a coach. He worked as a sheriff, bartender, truck driver, and later owned a night club. Blefary managed the team in 1978 but was fired mid-season.
Even as his health failed in his later years, he hoped to secure a professional coaching job,
Blefary's grandson, Anthony Servideo, was drafted in the third round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft by the Orioles. Servideo is a shortstop and played college baseball at the University of Mississippi.
Alcoholism, later life and death
Blefary started drinking at age 18, and continued drinking hard liquor for 33 years, which he acknowledged harmed his career. Former major league pitcher Sam McDowell helped Blefary find his way to rehabilitation. "He loved Baltimore, and he loved his fans," said his wife.