Former Brooklyn Dodgers star pitcher Clem Labine dead at 80

Clem Labine, a long-time right-handed reliever for the Bums, the beloved "Boys of Summer," died yesterday in Florida. In the 1955 World Series, Labine got one win in relief and a save as the Dodgers beat the Yankees. But this was just one highlight in a long career that included 513 games pitched (38 were starts), two All-Star appearances, five World Series (including one with the L.A. Dodgers in 1959 and another with the Pirates in 1960), and the honor of being an Original Met.

Labine also notched two classic starts. In the 1951 playoff, he took the mound in Game 2  against the Giants and shut them out 10-0. And in Game 6 of the 1956 World Series, he blanked the Yankees 1-0 in 10 innings.

In The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn wrote about Labine as an executive and designer for a men's clothing company after his baseball days ended. The company closed, and after that Labine became a banking executive before retiring. His son, Clem Jr. (know as Jay), stepped on a land mine while serving in Vietnam with the Marines, and lost a leg.

In Tales from the 1962 New York Mets, Janet Paskin tells the story about a spring training incident involving Labine -- who'd been almost officially relegated to a coaching position -- and catcher Joe Ginsberg. They came into the team hotel late one night after playing golf, and went into the dining room to find the only others in the joint were Casey and Edna Stengel.

Stengel, ever the gentleman, signalled to the waiter that he wanted to buy the two players a drink. They accepted, of course. But there was only one problem -- Stengel had a rule barring players from drinking in the hotel.

The following day there was a pre-practice meeting. "Something happened last night," said Stengel. "We had two ballplayers go in that dining room last night and they were drinking beer, and it's going to cost them $50 each. Okay, you two guys stand up."

Labine and Ginsberg stayed put, but eventually admitted their "guilt" to Stengel. But Labine was sure that Stengel had no idea who he'd played his little trick on.

RIP, Clem.