Trending Now - Two-time Yankees Champion Ken Clay Passes Away at 71

WHO:

NY Post - Ken Clay, a two-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, has passed away at the age of 71.

ESPN - Dr. Jim Warren, executive medical director for the Centra Heart & Vascular Institute in Lynchburg, Virginia, notified the Yankees of Clay's death.

WHAT:

NY Post - Clay made 111 appearances in Major League Baseball, including 36 starts, with a career record of 10-24, three saves, and a 4.68 ERA.

ESPN - Clay's cause of death was reported as heart and kidney issues.

WHERE:

ESPN - Ken Clay died at home in Lynchburg, Virginia.

WHEN:

ESPN - Ken Clay died on March 28th, 2026.

ESPN - Clay made his major league debut in June 1977.

ESPN - Ken Clay died on March 28th, 2026.

ESPN - Clay made his major league debut in June 1977.

WHY:

ESPN - Clay's struggles in 1979 led to criticism from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who called him a "morning glory."

HOW:

ESPN - Clay's best postseason performance occurred in the 1978 American League Championship Series, where he pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings and earned a save.

ESPN - Clay had a series of legal issues post-baseball, including a guilty plea in 1987 for stealing over $16,000, a one-year jail sentence in 1992 for stealing $550, and a guilty plea in 2001 for forgery and other charges, agreeing to repay over $40,000 to creditors.

ESPN - Clay's best postseason performance occurred in the 1978 American League Championship Series, where he pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings and earned a save.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 11:18 UTC)

Ken Clay, who made his major league debut in June 19th77, passed away on Saturday. He is remembered for his standout performance in the 1978 American League Championship Series, where he pitched three and two-thirds scoreless innings and earned a save. However, Clay faced a series of legal troubles after his baseball career, including a guilty plea in 1987 for stealing over $16,000 and a one-year jail sentence in 1992 for stealing $550, along with a guilty plea in 2001 for forgery and other charges, which required him to repay over $40,000 to creditors.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 03:55 UTC)

Ken Clay, a two-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, has passed away at the age of 71 at his home in Lynchburg, Virginia, on Saturday. During his Major League Baseball career, Clay made 111 appearances with a record of 10 wins and 24 losses, along with three saves and a 4.68 ERA, but faced criticism from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner during his struggles in 1979. After his playing days, Clay encountered a series of legal issues, including a guilty plea for theft and forgery, which resulted in jail time and a requirement to repay creditors.