Clint Hartung, R. I. P.

Clint Hartung, Modest Giant, Dies at 87 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com: "Any ballplayer who makes it to the big leagues has achieved much and can be said to have succeeded beyond the expectations he generated in youth. But Clint Hartung is largely, and perhaps unfairly, remembered as the exception to the rule.

A strapping Texan who excelled as both a pitcher and a hitter in high school, in the minor leagues and on military service teams, Hartung had been touted as both the next Babe Ruth and the next Christy Mathewson by the time he was signed by the New York Giants. Then he hit a home run in his first at-bat, during an intrasquad game, in spring training in 1947."

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.