​When records fall, all attention shifts to the individuals who set them. Yet it’s crucial to remember that those moments of history are witnessed by many others nearby, people whose own stories deserve to be told. Teammates of Aaron Judge will carry memories of the 2022 season, the year he eclipsed Roger Maris’ franchise and AL home run mark. Regardless of how many games they played in a Yankees uniform, they can say they watched one of the game’s greats do what he did best—day in and day out.
Tex Clevenger belongs to that lineage of players who saw history through the eyes of those who shared the field with legends. Born Truman Eugene Clevenger on July 9, 1932, in Visalia, California, and passing away there on August 24, 2019, his baseball journey led him to the Yankees for a brief but memorable stretch from 1961 to 1962. Clevenger grew up in Visalia, attending Visalia High School before spending three and a half years at Cal State Fresno. He began high school at just 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighed a mere 86 pounds. His first year on the team was paused due to concerns about his size, but a new coach, Hank Viden, arrived and announced that anyone who wanted to play baseball would be welcomed. Clevenger initially played in the outfield, but when Viden asked for volunteers to pitch, Clevenger stepped forward and earned his place on the mound.
Signed by the Boston Red Sox on June 9, 1953, after a scout named Tom Downey witnessed him throwing his second no-hitter for the Fresno Bulldogs against the College of the Pacific. In that game, he struck out 20 batters and went 6-for-6 at the plate, including three triples, two singles, and a double. The Red Sox beat out other teams that reportedly offered more money, because Clevenger recognized an opportunity not only to reach the majors but also to strengthen his pitching repertoire, especially his curveball. He understood that a dominant pitch would be essential to realizing his major-league ambitions. He began his professional career with the Red Sox organization in 1953 and posted a remarkable season, going 16–2 with a 1.51 ERA and 157 strikeouts across 155.0 innings, earning the 1953 California League MVP Award.
After that standout minor-league performance, Clevenger trained with the Red Sox in Sarasota, Florida, during the spring of 1954. He was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Colonels to start the season and was called up barely a week before the campaign opened, receiving high praise from the Red Sox coaching staff as an outstanding prospect. Still, the team was cautious about rushing him to the majors, worried that doing so might hinder his development. It became clear that Clevenger was close to ready, but not quite there yet. In 23 games pitched in 1954, eight of which were starts, he finished the season with a 2-4 record and a 4.79 ERA over 67.2 innings. His major-league debut came against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking the beginning of a career that would see him bridge the gap between prospect and major-league contributor, with a traceable impact on the generations of players who followed.