Clair Kane, an original member of the Clearwater Bombers and a player on the fast-pitch softball team's first world championship in 1950, died of cancer Thursday at Bay Pines Veterans Hospital. He was 65. Mr Kane played leftfield for the Bombers from 1940 through at least 1950, according to former teammates. For years up until his illness, he helped coordinate adult slow-pitch softball leagues for the city of Dunedin. "He was always good on defense and he hit the ball well," said Herb Dudley, a former Bomber pitcher and teammate of Mr. Kane. "He always kept himself in good shape. He never drank anything, outside of water and milk. Everybody liked Clair."
Clair joined the Blackburn Bombers in 1940 and played with the team through '41. He Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attached to Fleet Air Wing 3, a patrol squadron based in Panama. After the war Clair returned to Clearwater, rejoining the team in 1946, two years before it became known as the Clearwater Bombers. He was a regular player on the 1950 World Championship team. "Everything was always all right with Clair," said Eddie Moore, who managed the Bombers from 1946 through 1957. "He was an exceptionally good team man. In fact, even in the years he wasn't up there in the regular outfield, I can't remember Clair complaining the first time."
Clair was employed in the circulation department of the Clearwater Sun newspaper and had responsibility for most of northern Clearwater and southern Dunedin, Florida. He is survived by a brother, Robert of Belleair, and four sisters, Irene Ditto and Margorie Cracrast of Clearwater, Charlotte Smith of Mount Union, Pa., and Cynthia Haley of Largo.
(Originally published in the St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 1988 by Pete Reinwald, Times Staff Writer)
Clair joined the Blackburn Bombers in 1940 and played with the team through '41. He Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attached to Fleet Air Wing 3, a patrol squadron based in Panama. After the war Clair returned to Clearwater, rejoining the team in 1946, two years before it became known as the Clearwater Bombers. He was a regular player on the 1950 World Championship team. "Everything was always all right with Clair," said Eddie Moore, who managed the Bombers from 1946 through 1957. "He was an exceptionally good team man. In fact, even in the years he wasn't up there in the regular outfield, I can't remember Clair complaining the first time."
Clair was employed in the circulation department of the Clearwater Sun newspaper and had responsibility for most of northern Clearwater and southern Dunedin, Florida. He is survived by a brother, Robert of Belleair, and four sisters, Irene Ditto and Margorie Cracrast of Clearwater, Charlotte Smith of Mount Union, Pa., and Cynthia Haley of Largo.
(Originally published in the St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 1988 by Pete Reinwald, Times Staff Writer)
Clair Kane, an original member of the Clearwater Bombers and a player on the fast-pitch softball team's first world championship in 1950, died of cancer Thursday at Bay Pines Veterans Hospital. He was 65. Mr Kane played leftfield for the Bombers from 1940 through at least 1950, according to former teammates. For years up until his illness, he helped coordinate adult slow-pitch softball leagues for the city of Dunedin. "He was always good on defense and he hit the ball well," said Herb Dudley, a former Bomber pitcher and teammate of Mr. Kane. "He always kept himself in good shape. He never drank anything, outside of water and milk. Everybody liked Clair."
Clair joined the Blackburn Bombers in 1940 and played with the team through '41. He Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attached to Fleet Air Wing 3, a patrol squadron based in Panama. After the war Clair returned to Clearwater, rejoining the team in 1946, two years before it became known as the Clearwater Bombers. He was a regular player on the 1950 World Championship team. "Everything was always all right with Clair," said Eddie Moore, who managed the Bombers from 1946 through 1957. "He was an exceptionally good team man. In fact, even in the years he wasn't up there in the regular outfield, I can't remember Clair complaining the first time."
Clair was employed in the circulation department of the Clearwater Sun newspaper and had responsibility for most of northern Clearwater and southern Dunedin, Florida. He is survived by a brother, Robert of Belleair, and four sisters, Irene Ditto and Margorie Cracrast of Clearwater, Charlotte Smith of Mount Union, Pa., and Cynthia Haley of Largo.
(Originally published in the St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 1988 by Pete Reinwald, Times Staff Writer)
Clair joined the Blackburn Bombers in 1940 and played with the team through '41. He Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attached to Fleet Air Wing 3, a patrol squadron based in Panama. After the war Clair returned to Clearwater, rejoining the team in 1946, two years before it became known as the Clearwater Bombers. He was a regular player on the 1950 World Championship team. "Everything was always all right with Clair," said Eddie Moore, who managed the Bombers from 1946 through 1957. "He was an exceptionally good team man. In fact, even in the years he wasn't up there in the regular outfield, I can't remember Clair complaining the first time."
Clair was employed in the circulation department of the Clearwater Sun newspaper and had responsibility for most of northern Clearwater and southern Dunedin, Florida. He is survived by a brother, Robert of Belleair, and four sisters, Irene Ditto and Margorie Cracrast of Clearwater, Charlotte Smith of Mount Union, Pa., and Cynthia Haley of Largo.
(Originally published in the St. Petersburg Times, August 6, 1988 by Pete Reinwald, Times Staff Writer)
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