Boots Poffenberger
Encyclopedia
Cletus Elwood "Boots" Poffenberger (July 1, 1915–September 1, 1999) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Detroit Tigers
(1937–1939) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1939).
, Boots Poffenberger played for the Beaumont Exporters
in 1937, with a record of 9-1. He was called up to the Tigers mid-season and went 10-5 as a rookie in 137⅓ innings with an earned run average of 4.67. His won-loss percentage of .667 in 1937 was seventh best in the American League
. He was also ninth best in the league in saves (3) and tenth in hit batsmen (4). Boots also fell for the "hidden ball trick
" as a rookie, caught by Frank Crosetti on July 16, 1937.
wrote that "Poffenberger aroused great expectations with a 10-5 season as a rookie in 1937, but his performance never approached the heights of his antics...He loved to live it up. In fact, some days he did not show up for work. He became known as the ‘Duke of Duckout'."
Stories about Poffenberger's late night drinking and poor training practices caused him to fall out of favor with the team. After a night of heavy drinking while on a road trip with the Tigers in 1937, Poffenberger called room service and said, "I'll have the breakfast of champions." When asked if he wanted cereal, Poffenberger replied, "Hell, no. Two fried eggs and a bottle of beer."
Later, Boots was interviewed on a radio program sponsored by a cereal company. When it came time for the commercial plug, the interviewer asked, "Now, tell us, Boots, what is your favorite breakfast, taken with cream, sugar and some sort of fruit?" The non-conformist, Boots refused to play along and responded, "Ham, eggs, and two bottles of beer."
After returning to the Tigers from a one-day "disappearance," manager Mickey Cochrane
stood over him in the clubhouse and demanded to know his whereabouts. Boots replied: "I refuse to reveal my identity."
The Tigers eventually hired a detective to follow him. Owner Walter Briggs, Sr. tried to get Boots to change his ways by reciting everywhere Boots had gone and everything that Boots had done in the late hours. Boots asked Briggs how he knew about all of his activities, and Briggs explained he had hired a private detective. Boots said, "That's a waste of your money, Mr. Briggs. You ought to assign him to some other player. You know darn well what I'm going to do." Boots told Briggs he should give Boots the money he was giving to the detective and Boots would tell them where to go. "All they’d have to do was go to the beer joint closest to the ballpark."
before the 1938 season
was over.
In 1939, Poffenberger was claimed off waivers by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In May, Poffenberger was suspended by the Dodgers and fined $400 for breaking training rules. Boots pitched only five innings for the Dodgers before being sent to the minor leagues in Montreal. Poffenberger refused to report to Montreal (he asked to be sent to Beaumont instead, because he thought the night life was better) and was placed on the ineligible list for 1939.
In three seasons in the major leagues, Poffenberger won 16 games and lost 12 with an earned run average of 4.75.
in the Southern Association
, a team that went 101-47 and has been ranked by MiLB.com as the 47th best team in minor league history. Poffenberger led the way with a 26-9 record for the 1940 Vols. Boots led the league in wins (the 2nd most was 18) and win percentage (.743).
Boots played for the Vols again in 1941 and was suspended for 90 days for throwing a ball at an umpire. During a game in Nashville, Poffenberger reportedly consumed "a few shots of gin" before taking the mound. He became angry at the umpire's calls and threw the ball at the umpire, resulting in the suspension. Boots later said of the umpire incident, “It just slipped up on me this time.” In 1942, Boots moved on to the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
.
Boots Poffenberger died in Williamsport, Maryland
in 1999 at age 84.
In 2003, actor Christopher Lloyd
portrayed a character named "Dr. Cletus Poffenberger" (Boots' real first name was Cletus) on the television series "Tremors."
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1937–1939) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1939).
Promising rookie year in 1937
Born in Williamsport, MarylandWilliamsport, Maryland
Williamsport is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2000 census and 2,278 as of July 2008.-Geography: Williamsport is located at ....
, Boots Poffenberger played for the Beaumont Exporters
Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters were a franchise in American minor league baseball that played in the Texas League from 1920-49 and 1953-55. The city of Beaumont, Texas, was also represented in the Texas League from 1912-17 and 1919 as the Oilers, from 1950-52 as the Roughnecks, and from 1983-86 as the...
in 1937, with a record of 9-1. He was called up to the Tigers mid-season and went 10-5 as a rookie in 137⅓ innings with an earned run average of 4.67. His won-loss percentage of .667 in 1937 was seventh best in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. He was also ninth best in the league in saves (3) and tenth in hit batsmen (4). Boots also fell for the "hidden ball trick
Hidden ball trick
In the game of baseball, the hidden ball trick is a play in which the runner is deceived about the location of the ball, in an effort to have him tagged out.-Execution:...
" as a rookie, caught by Frank Crosetti on July 16, 1937.
Off-field antics and problems with management
Boots was only 21 years old when he debuted with the Tigers, and his career spun out of control within two years. Baseball writer Joe FallsJoe Falls
Joseph Francis Falls was an American journalist. He began his career in his native New York City. At the age of 17 in 1945, he took a job as a copyboy for the Associated Press. After an apprenticeship of eight years, Falls moved to the Detroit bureau of the AP.In Detroit, Falls flourished...
wrote that "Poffenberger aroused great expectations with a 10-5 season as a rookie in 1937, but his performance never approached the heights of his antics...He loved to live it up. In fact, some days he did not show up for work. He became known as the ‘Duke of Duckout'."
Stories about Poffenberger's late night drinking and poor training practices caused him to fall out of favor with the team. After a night of heavy drinking while on a road trip with the Tigers in 1937, Poffenberger called room service and said, "I'll have the breakfast of champions." When asked if he wanted cereal, Poffenberger replied, "Hell, no. Two fried eggs and a bottle of beer."
Later, Boots was interviewed on a radio program sponsored by a cereal company. When it came time for the commercial plug, the interviewer asked, "Now, tell us, Boots, what is your favorite breakfast, taken with cream, sugar and some sort of fruit?" The non-conformist, Boots refused to play along and responded, "Ham, eggs, and two bottles of beer."
After returning to the Tigers from a one-day "disappearance," manager Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
stood over him in the clubhouse and demanded to know his whereabouts. Boots replied: "I refuse to reveal my identity."
The Tigers eventually hired a detective to follow him. Owner Walter Briggs, Sr. tried to get Boots to change his ways by reciting everywhere Boots had gone and everything that Boots had done in the late hours. Boots asked Briggs how he knew about all of his activities, and Briggs explained he had hired a private detective. Boots said, "That's a waste of your money, Mr. Briggs. You ought to assign him to some other player. You know darn well what I'm going to do." Boots told Briggs he should give Boots the money he was giving to the detective and Boots would tell them where to go. "All they’d have to do was go to the beer joint closest to the ballpark."
Boots' final years in the Major Leagues (1938-1939)
After a strong rookie season, Boots held out for more money. When he returned, he was not able to match the success of his rookie season, finishing the season with a 6-7 record. The Tigers sent him to the Toledo Mud HensToledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
before the 1938 season
1938 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The Detroit Tigers compiled a record of 84 wins and 70 losses, good enough for fourth place in the American League...
was over.
In 1939, Poffenberger was claimed off waivers by the Brooklyn Dodgers. In May, Poffenberger was suspended by the Dodgers and fined $400 for breaking training rules. Boots pitched only five innings for the Dodgers before being sent to the minor leagues in Montreal. Poffenberger refused to report to Montreal (he asked to be sent to Beaumont instead, because he thought the night life was better) and was placed on the ineligible list for 1939.
In three seasons in the major leagues, Poffenberger won 16 games and lost 12 with an earned run average of 4.75.
Minor league career with Nashville and San Diego
Though he never made it back to the big leagues, Boots had his best year in 1940 playing with the Nashville VolsNashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
in the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, a team that went 101-47 and has been ranked by MiLB.com as the 47th best team in minor league history. Poffenberger led the way with a 26-9 record for the 1940 Vols. Boots led the league in wins (the 2nd most was 18) and win percentage (.743).
Boots played for the Vols again in 1941 and was suspended for 90 days for throwing a ball at an umpire. During a game in Nashville, Poffenberger reportedly consumed "a few shots of gin" before taking the mound. He became angry at the umpire's calls and threw the ball at the umpire, resulting in the suspension. Boots later said of the umpire incident, “It just slipped up on me this time.” In 1942, Boots moved on to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
United States Marine Corps in World War II
Boots joined the U.S. Marines and served in the South Pacific during World War II. His photograph was used on Marine recruiting posters. He returned to baseball in 1946 playing a final season for San Diego in the PCL.Boots Poffenberger died in Williamsport, Maryland
Williamsport, Maryland
Williamsport is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2000 census and 2,278 as of July 2008.-Geography: Williamsport is located at ....
in 1999 at age 84.
In 2003, actor Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Allen Lloyd is an American actor. He is best known for playing Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, and Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He played Reverend Jim Ignatowski in the television series Taxi and more...
portrayed a character named "Dr. Cletus Poffenberger" (Boots' real first name was Cletus) on the television series "Tremors."