Clarence Elmer Mitchell
In the Majors from 1911, 1916 to 1932
Born: February 22, 1891 Franklin, NE
Died: November 6, 1963 Grand Island, NE


Pitcher 1911, 1916 - 1932
Detroit (A) 1911
Cincinnati (N) 1916-1917
Brooklyn (N) 1918-1922
Philadelphia (N) 1923-1928
St. Louis (N) 1928-1930
New York (N) 1930-1932


BOLD TYPE INDICATES TEAM WIN

WORLD SERIES
1920, 1928

COACH
New York (N) 1932-1933

 Clarence Elmer Mitchell
Born: February 22, 1891, Franklin, NE Died: November 6, 1963 Grand Island, NE
Ht-5'11½" 190 lbs Debut June 2, 1911 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Year Club League Pos G IP W L Pct. S.O. B.B. H. ERA
1909 Frankling Neb. P 21 5 2 .714 25 16
1910 Red Cloud a Neb P 37 14 13 .519 135 46
1911 Detroit b A.L. P 5 16 1 0 1.000 4 7 21
1912 Providence I.L. P 21 109 7 6 .538 59 43 117 5.28
1913 Providence d I.L. P 17 100 4 5 .444 31 31 116 4.68
1914 Denver e W.L. P 22 142 8 6 .571 70 42 150 4.25
1915 Denver W.L. P 58 250 22 11 .667 107 69 202 2.77
1916 Cincinnati N.L. P 29 195 11 10 .524 52 45 21 3.14
1917 Cincinnati f N.L. P 32 159 9 15 .375 37 34 166 3.22
1918 Brooklyn N.L. P 1 9 0 1 .000 0 0 4
1919 Brooklyn N.L. P 23 109 7 5 .583 43 23 123 3.05
1920 Brooklyn N.L. P 19 79 5 2 .714 18 23 85 3.08
1921 Brooklyn N.L. P 37 190 11 9 .550 39 46 206 2.89
1922 Brooklyn N.L. P 5 13 0 0 .000
1923 Philadelphia g N.L. P 29 139 9 10 .474 42 46 170 4.73
1924 Philadelphia N.L. P 30 165 6 13 .316 36 58 223 5.62
1925 Philadelphia N.L. P 32 199 10 17 .370 46 51 245 5.29
1926 Philadelphia N.L. P 28 179 9 14 .391 52 55 232 4.58
1927 Philadelphia N.L. P 13 95 6 3 .667 17 28 99 4.07
1928 Phil-St. Lou h N.L. P 22 156 8 9 .471 31 40 162 3.52
1929 St. Louis N.L. P 25 173 8 11 .421 39 60 221 4.27
1930 St. Louis NY i N.L. P 25 132 11 3 .786 41 38 156 4.02
1931 New York N.L. P 27 190 13 11 .542 39 52 221 4.07
1932 New York N.L. P 8 30 2 3 .400 7 12 41 4.50
1933 New York N.L. Non Playing Coach
1934 Missions Pacific Coast P 39 253 19 12 .613 63 70 282 3.67
1935 Missions Pacific Coast P 26 152 6 11 .353 32 31 107 5.09
1936 Omaha Western P 16 101 7 4 .636 27 36 101 3.35

World Series:
1920 Brooklyn N.L. P 1 5 0 0 .000 1 3 3
1928 St. Louis N.L. P 1 6 0 0 .000 2 2 2

a Drafted
b Optioned February 2.
c Optioned August 2
d Recalled and turned over to Denver
e Sold September 2. Reported sale price $3,000
f Traded to Brooklyn
g Obtained by Philadelphia in trade for George Smith, February 11, 1923.
h Released unconditionally May 28, 1928 by Phila. And signed by Cardinals, June 5, 1928.
i Traded to Giants for Ralph Judd, May 1930.


Playing Career of 28 years!
  Clarence Mitchell who was born in a sod house in Franklin County, Nebraska, came from a rural background. He spent most of his childhood on his father's farm and played sandlot baseball in Franklin as time allowed. He became their star pitcher. Clarence's desire to play professional baseball might have been the cause of his leaving high school to accept a clerking job that allowed him time to play for any team that needed him to play. He usually was a pitcher but also played outfield or first base. Because of his success as a pitcher, he received a professional contract with Franklin of the Nebraska State League in 1909 and thus this was the beginning of his professional career.
His 18-year major league career produced 125 victories, a 4.12 ERA and a .252 lifetime batting average. This placed Clarence in the top 25 hitting pitchers.
Clarence Mitchell had a spitball that would break down, up or away from the batter as directed by Mitchell. Mitchell was known to doctor the baseball with slippery elm. He is probably the only pitcher in history to cut his own supply of slippery elm from a tree in his home town.
Most often, Clarence is remembered primarily as the man who hit into the only unassisted triple play in the World Series history.
Mitchell returned to Nebraska after his playing career was over and helped to establish the Cornhusker League. In 1953, Mitchell was inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame.
In the late 1950's, Mitchell suffered a circulatory ailment and eventually both legs were amputated. This resulted in him being confined to a wheelchair for the last 5 year of his life, but he never lost his love for the game.