RetroSimba

(Updated March 27, 2018)

Clyde King was a big-league pitcher who went on to manage the Giants, Braves and Yankees.

King also had a fascinating stint as a minor-league manager and coach in the Cardinals organization.

In 1959, former Cardinals pitcher Cot Deal was manager of St. Louis’ minor-league affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. In July, Rochester went into a tailspin, losing 20 of 25, and fell into last place in the International League.

On Aug. 1, a frustrated Deal resigned in a dramatic clubhouse meeting. Rochester general manager George Sisler Jr. sought permission from the Reds to approach King, who was Cincinnati’s pitching coach.

King wanted to become a big-league manager and he believed managing in the minor leagues would pave the way. King accepted Rochester’s offer to become its manager and the Reds hired Deal to be their pitching coach.

Rochester went 21-19 under King in 1959.

In 1960, King transformed Rochester into a championship contender.

Helped by pitching talent such as Ray Washburn, Bob Gibson and Ray Sadecki, and bolstered by a lineup featuring sluggers Leon Wagner and Luke Easter, King led the Cardinals’ farm club to an 81-73 record. Rochester qualified for the playoffs, eliminated Richmond in the first round and lost to Toronto in the finals.

Rochester’s record was of secondary importance to Cardinals farm director Walter Shannon, who was upset because King played veterans ahead of prospects. Shannon ordered King replaced, but Rochester management, loyal to King, responded by dropping their affiliation with the Cardinals and becoming a farm team of the Orioles.

King continued to manage Rochester in 1961 and 1962.

In a surprising twist, King accepted an offer to become the Cardinals’ minor-league pitching coach in 1963. Eddie Stanky, a teammate of King with the Dodgers in the 1940s, had replaced Shannon as head of the Cardinals’ minor-league system.

In two years (1963-64) as Cardinals minor-league pitching coach, King mentored prospects such as Steve Carlton, Larry Jaster, Nelson Briles, Dick Hughes and Mike Cuellar.

“I suppose Clyde King did the most for me when he was the Cardinals’ minor-league pitching coach,” Carlton told The Sporting News. “He smoothed me out. He taught me how to use my arm to the best advantage.”

When Danny Murtaugh resigned as Pirates manager after the 1964 season, King and his friend, Cardinals minor-league manager Harry Walker, were interviewed for the job and became finalists. The Pirates picked Walker, who hired King to be Pirates pitching coach.