With a steady supply of quips delivered in a high-pitched Tennessee twang it’s easy to view Clyde Wright as the most carefree man in the world.
But happy-go-lucky people aren’t immune to reality. And for Wright, 75, one of seven Angels to pitch a no-hitter, reality bit late last year in its uncanny form of coming in threes.
First, Angels teammate Ed Sukla, 72, died in Irvine after a long battle with cancer and former Angels pitcher Dean Chance, 74, died of a heart attack in Ohio. “Then I heard about Rod,” Wright said about former Angel and MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who suffered a massive heart attack and nearly died while playing golf.
A few days later Wright visited a doctor for an angiogram. A few days after that he had quadruple bypass surgery at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
“The doctors said four of my arteries were 90 percent blocked,” Wright said. “I was completely shocked. I wouldn’t even have gone to the doctor’s office if it wasn’t for what happened to Rod.”
The heart surgery has given Wright a greater appreciation for life because he realizes he could have had a heart attack at any moment. He now wants to do even more, if possible, to promote charitable causes and continue his work as a community representative for the Angels. Coincidentally, the main beneficiary for the fourth annual Clyde Wright Invitational, held in mid-May at Aliso Viejo Country Club, is Age Well, a senior services organization in Laguna Beach that annually provides more than 500,000 meals to seniors in addition to other health care, case management, transportation and financial assistance.
“I got involved because most of the money goes to Meals on Wheels, and I told them that I’m getting pretty close to needing those meals,” Wright joked. “But, honestly, we’ve had a super time with it.”
Wright, who threw his no-hitter against Oakland on July 3, 1970, took time to answer a few more questions while at the course.
Q: Do you do a lot of charity stuff?
I do quite a bit of it through the Angels and my community relations post. Any time they need help with something, they call me because I only live about five minutes from the stadium and it doesn’t take me long to get around Orange County. I’ve probably spoken to every Little League in Orange County, and we do a lot of stuff with the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Q: Did your medical issue make you want to be even more charitable?
Well, it makes you think of where you’ve been and what you’ve got and it kind of opens your mind a little bit, that’s for sure. If I can help, I will.
Q: Do you still golf?
I still golf. But today (May 16) is the first day I played golf in about five months.
Q: Do you keep a handicap?
I used to. When I played with the Angels I was probably a plus-2. I could play. Now, though, I’m probably a good 10. I don’t hit it as far but I can still hit it straight.
Q: Of athletes in other sports, why are pitchers typically the best golfers?
They only pitch every four or five days. A lot of them, though, don’t play anymore during the season. But back in my day we took our clubs on road trips, so if we had an off day we’d go play. And we got to play some beautiful golf courses all over America.
Q: Is golf a good sport or activity for charity events?
It’s a good way for people to get together and a good way for us old ballplayers to get together and reminisce. Funny thing is, we seem to get better and better each year with the retelling of a story. But, generally, I know most people who like to golf are good people as well.
Q: How long do you plan on doing charity events and working for the Angels?
As long as I can move around. I love to do this. I love talking to people and I love having a good time.
