Projo Sports Blog

Rhode Island native Clem Labine, a key member of the pitching staff on the Brookyn Dodgers' famous "Boys of Summer" teams of the 1950s, died last night of complications following a stroke in Vero Beach, Fla., where he had been coaching at an annual weeklong Dodgers fantasy baseball camp.

Labine was a native of Lincoln who maintained a residence in Cumberland until his death. BaseballLibrary.com calls him a "free-spirited sinkerballer" and "one of baseball's premier relievers in the 1950s."

Labine played for Brooklyn in the 1950s and accompanied the team when it moved to Los Angeles in 1957. He later played for the Detroit Tigers, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. He played with fellow baseball greats Jackie Robinson, Carl Erskine, Duke Snider, and Roy Campanella.

Labine was the National League Games Pitched leader in 1955 with 60 games. He was the National League Saves Leader in 1956 with 19 saves, and again in 1957 with 17 saves.

Labine, who was 80, and his wife, Barbara, split their time between homes in Cumberland and Vero Beach.

Read the story at the Dodgers' Web site

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