Gene Conley: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Gene Conley

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|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1930|11|10}}

|birth_place=[[Muskogee, Oklahoma]], U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2017|07|04|1930|11|10}}

|death_place=[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]], U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 17

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|stat3value=888

|teams=

*[[~~Boston~~Atlanta Braves ~~(baseball)~~|Boston / Milwaukee Braves]] ({{Baseball year|1952}}, {{Baseball year|1954}}–{{Baseball year|1958}})

*[[Milwaukee Braves]] ({{Baseball year|1954}}–{{Baseball year|1958}})

*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{Baseball year|1959}}–{{Baseball year|1960}})

*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{Baseball year|1961}}–{{Baseball year|1963}})

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* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1954 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1954]], [[1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1955]], [[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1959]], [[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)|1959²]])

* [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1957}})

|module=

}}

{{Infobox basketball biography|embed=yes

'''Donald Eugene Conley''' (November 10, 1930 – July 4, 2017) was a [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] who played 11 seasons from 1952 to 1963 for four teams. Conley also played [[Forward (basketball)|forward]] in the [[1952–53 NBA season|1952–53 season]] and from [[1958–59 NBA season|1958]] to [[1963–64 NBA season|1964]] for two teams in the [[National Basketball Association]]. He is best known for being one of only two people (the other being [[Otto Graham]]–1946 NBL and AAFC Championship, plus three more AAFC and three NFL championships) to win championships in two of the four major American sports, one with the [[Milwaukee Braves (1953–69)|Milwaukee Braves]] in the [[1957 World Series]] and three [[Boston Celtics]] championships from 1959–61.

~~== Early life ==~~

Conley was born in [[Muskogee, Oklahoma]]. While still young, his family moved to [[Richland, Washington]]. He attended [[Richland High School (Washington)|Richland High School]], where he played multiple sports.<ref name="SABR">{{cite web |last=Husman|first=John M. |date= |title=SABR Baseball Biography Project: Gene Conley|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> He reached the all-state team in [[baseball]] and [[basketball]] and was the state champion in the [[high jump]].<ref name=earlyinfo>{{cite news |title= Conley Tabbed a Major Sure-Shot |author= Roger Dove |work= The Sporting News |page=2 |date= January 2, 1952 }}</ref>

Conley attended [[Washington State University]], where (as he told ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' in 2004) students "kidnapped" him during a recruiting visit in an effort to convince him to matriculate.<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print">{{cite news |title= Conley's stories fit to print |author= Dan Shaughnessy |work= The Boston Globe|date= December 15, 2004}}</ref> In 1950 he played on the [[Washington State Cougars baseball|Cougar]] team that reached the [[1950 College World Series|College World Series]].<ref name=earlyinfo/><ref name=wsu>{{cite web|title=Washington State University Baseball Players Who Made It to the Major Leagues|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|accessdate=December 16, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812200714/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml|archivedate=August 12, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> In basketball, Conley was twice selected honorable mention to the [[All-America]] team, leading the team in scoring with 20 points per game.<ref name=earlyinfo/> He was a first-team [[List of All-Pacific-12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-PCC]] selection in 1950.

During the summer, Conley pitched semiprofessional baseball in [[Walla Walla, Washington]], in which scouts from almost every [[Major League Baseball]] team came to recruit him.<ref name=earlyinfo/> He also was getting contract offers to play professional basketball from the [[Minneapolis Lakers]] and the [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]. At first he declined the offers, saying that his family didn't want him to sign any professional contracts until he finished school.<ref name="contract">{{cite book |title=Baseball between the Lines: Baseball in the Forties and Fifties as Told by the Men Who Played It|author=[[Donald Honig]]|publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=0-8032-7268-5|pages=193–205 }}</ref> But the offers were getting bigger, and in August 1950 he signed a professional contract with the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] for a $3,000 bonus.<ref name=earlyinfo/>

~~== Minor league career ==~~

Conley attended [[spring training]] in 1951 and was assigned to Hartford of the [[Eastern League (baseball)|Eastern League]] by the request of former Braves star [[Tommy Holmes]], who was managing the club.<ref name=request>{{cite news|title=New Tempest Brews in Boston|author=Bob Ajemian|work=The Sporting News|page=14|date= April 18, 1951}}</ref> After a month, Conley had a record of five wins and only one loss and was praised by observers in the league, saying that he had the best fastball since former pitcher [[Van Lingle Mungo]] played in the league in 1933.<ref name=bestfastball>{{cite news|title=Eastern League|work=The Sporting News|page=30|date= May 30, 1951}}</ref> On June 10, he threw a [[one-hitter (baseball)|one-hitter]] against [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady Blue Jays]], giving up the lone hit in the seventh inning.<ref name=onehitterminors>{{cite news|title=Eastern League|work=The Sporting News|page=34|date= June 20, 1951}}</ref> Holmes was promoted to manager of the Braves on June 25, and was replaced by future [[Baseball Hall of Famer]] [[Travis Jackson]].<ref name=Jackson>{{cite news|title=Travis Jackson Replaced Holmes in Harford helm|author=|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= July 4, 1951}}</ref>

By August 1, Conley had a record of 16 wins with only three losses, leading the league.<ref name=sixteenwins>{{cite news|title=Conley, 20, Tops E.L as Hill Winner|author=|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= July 4, 1951}}</ref> He was unanimously selected to the Eastern League All-Star team on August 29.<ref name="Easternleague All-Star">{{cite news|title=Scranton Places 4 Players on Eastern League All-Star Team|author=|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= August 29, 1951}}</ref> He received the Eastern League MVP award that season after he became the first player in Hartford history to win twenty games in a single season.<ref name=firstMVP>{{cite news|title=Conley gets MVP award|author= |work=The Sporting News|page=31|date= September 26, 1951}}</ref>

In the beginning of the 1952 season, Conley, along with fellow rookies [[George Crowe]] and [[Eddie Mathews]], was invited to spring training with a chance of making the roster.<ref name=makingroster>{{cite news|title=Ailing Braves to Try Old Fashioned Cure, More Daylightball|author=Al Hirshberg|authorlink=Al Hirshberg|work=The Sporting News|page=20|date= December 12, 1951}}</ref> Around that time, the United States Army was drafting for the [[Korean War]]. Many major and minor league players were selected to fight in the war, depleting team rosters. Conley was deferred because of his height (6'8'), which was above the Army maximum height for a soldier.<ref name=army>{{cite news|title=Braves Official High on Six-Eight Rookie|author=Steve O'Leary|work=The Sporting News|page=11|date= November 21, 1951}}</ref>

~~==Major league career==~~

Conley's debut with the Boston Braves was April 17, 1952 versus the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], the Braves' third game of the regular season. Conley started and faced a lineup that included four future members of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[Roy Campanella]], [[Jackie Robinson]], [[Pee Wee Reese]] and [[Duke Snider]]. In four innings, Conley gave up four runs on 11 hits and two walks, taking the loss as the Dodgers prevailed 8–2.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195204170.shtml |title= Apr 17, 1952, Dodgers at Braves Box Score and Play by Play |website= Baseball-Reference.com |access-date= January 12, 2017 }}</ref> Conley lost his next three starts through early May, ending the season with an 0–4 record and a 7.82 ERA.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/conlege01.shtml |title=Gene Conley |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

Conley would return to the majors in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, going 14–9 in 28 games with a 2.82 ERA, making the National League All-Star team and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> behind [[Wally Moon]] and [[Ernie Banks]], with Conley's Braves teammate [[Hank Aaron]] finishing fourth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1954.shtml |title=1954 Awards Voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

The following season in 1955, Conley would be named to the All-Star game again, completing the season with an 11–7 record with a 4.16 ERA. Conley would pitch for the Braves through 1959, compiling a record of 42-43 including an 0–6 record in his final season in Milwaukee.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" />

In his lone postseason appearance in the 1957 World Series on Oct. 5 against the [[New York Yankees]], Conley pitched an inning and two-thirds in relief of starter [[Bob Buhl]], surrendering a two-run home run to [[Mickey Mantle]] as the Yankees went on to win the game 12–3; but with the Braves winning the series in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195710050.shtml |title=Oct 5, 1957, Yankees at Braves Play by Play and Box Score |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

In the spring of 1959 with the Celtics in a playoff push, Conley delayed reporting to spring training with the Milwaukee Braves, prompting the team to trade Conley on March 31 to the [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]].<ref name="SABR" /> Conley would make his third and final All-Star game with the Phillies, going 12–7 with a 3.00 ERA,<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> with his season ending on August 19 after he was hit by a pitch while batting, breaking his hand.<ref name="SABR" />

After new contract talks bogged down, on Dec. 15, 1960 the Phillies traded Conley to the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]]; when he debuted with the Red Sox on April 28 against the [[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington Senators]], Conley became the first athlete to play for three professional teams in the same city along with the Celtics and his short stint with the Boston Braves in 1952.<ref name="SABR" /> In three seasons with the Red Sox through 1963, Conley had a 29–32 record,<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> with the win total including the final start of his major league career on Sept. 21, 1963, going six innings against the [[Minnesota Twins]] in an 11–2 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS196309212.shtml |title=Sep 21, 1963, Twins at Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 13, 2017}}</ref>

~~In 11 seasons pitching for the Braves, Phillies and Red Sox, Conley posted a 91–96 record with 888 [[strikeout]]s and a 3.82 [[earned run average|ERA]] in 1588.2 [[innings pitched|innings]].~~

Conley was an above average hitter for a pitcher, posting a .192 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (105-for-548) with 33 [[run baseball)|runs]], 19 [[doubles (baseball)|doubles]], 5 [[home runs]] and 45 [[RBI]] in 276 games. Defensively, he was below average, recording a .944 [[fielding percentage]], which was 14 points lower than the league average at his position.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" />

~~Conley was the winning [[pitcher]] in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1955 All-Star Game]] and was selected for the 1954 and 1959 games.~~

~~Conley was the last living player to have played for both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves.~~

~~== Professional basketball career ==~~

~~{{Infobox basketball biography~~

| name = Gene Conley

| image = Gene Conley 1960 (cropped).JPG

| width =

| caption = Gene Conley with the 1960 Boston Celtics

| position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]] / [[Forward (basketball)|~~Forward~~forward]]

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 225

| number = 17, 5

| birth_date = ~~{{birth date|1930|11|10}}~~

| death_date = ~~{{death date and age|2017|7|4|1930|11|10}}~~

| birth_place = ~~[[Muskogee, Oklahoma]]~~

| death_place = ~~[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]]~~

| nationality = American

| high_school = {{nowrap|[[Richland High School (Washington)|Richland]] ([[Richland, Washington]])}}

Line 113 ⟶ 76:

| stat3value = 201

| bbr = conlege01

}}}}

'''Donald Eugene Conley''' (November 10, 1930 – July 4, 2017) was an American professional [[baseball]] and [[basketball]] player. He pitched for four teams in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1952 to 1963. Conley also played as a [[Forward (basketball)|forward]] in the [[1952–53 NBA season|1952–53 season]] and from [[1958–59 NBA season|1958]] to [[1963–64 NBA season|1964]] for two teams in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). He is the only person to win championships in two of the four major American sports: one with the [[Milwaukee Braves (1953–69)|Milwaukee Braves]] in the [[1957 World Series]] and three with the [[Boston Celtics]] from [[1959 NBA Finals|1959]] to [[1961 NBA Finals|1961]].

In the middle of his first season of professional baseball, Conley agreed to sign with the [[Wilkes-Barre Barons]] of the struggling [[American Basketball League (1925–55)]].<ref name=startofbasketball>{{cite news |title= Eastern League |author= |work=The Sporting News |page=33 |date= August 29, 1951 }}</ref>

== Early life ==

On April 26, 1952, the Boston Celtics selected Conley with the 90th pick of the NBA draft.<ref>{{cite web |last=Husman |first= John M. |date= |title= SABR Baseball Biography Project: Gene Conley |publisher= Society for American Baseball Research |url= http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f |access-date= January 12, 2017 }}</ref> Playing 39 games as a rookie in the 1952-53 NBA season, Conley averaged about 12 minutes a game for a Celtics team that went 45–26 in the regular season under [[Red Auerbach]].<ref name="Basketball-Reference.com">{{cite web |title=Gene Conley |publisher= Basketball-Reference.com |url= https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlege01.html |access-date=January 13, 2017 }}</ref> Conley did not play in the Celtics' two playoff series that season, with the team losing 3–1 in the Eastern Division finals to the [[New York Knicks]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1952-53 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1953.html |access-date=January 13, 2017 }}</ref>

Conley was born in [[Muskogee, Oklahoma]]. While still young, his family moved to [[Richland, Washington]]. He attended [[Richland High School (Washington)|Richland High School]], where he played multiple sports.<ref name="SABR">{{cite web |last=Husman|first=John M. |title=SABR Baseball Biography Project: Gene Conley|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> He reached the all-state team in [[baseball]] and [[basketball]] and was the state champion in the [[high jump]].<ref name=earlyinfo>{{cite news |title= Conley Tabbed a Major Sure-Shot |author= Roger Dove |work= The Sporting News |page=2 |date= January 2, 1952 }}</ref>

Conley attended [[Washington State University]], where (as he told ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' in 2004) students "kidnapped" him during a recruiting visit in an effort to convince him to matriculate.<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print">{{cite news |title= Conley's stories fit to print |author= Dan Shaughnessy |work= The Boston Globe|date= December 15, 2004}}</ref> In 1950 he played on the [[Washington State Cougars baseball|Cougar]] team that reached the [[1950 College World Series|College World Series]].<ref name=earlyinfo/><ref name=wsu>{{cite web|title=Washington State University Baseball Players Who Made It to the Major Leagues|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812200714/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml|archive-date=August 12, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> In basketball, Conley was twice selected honorable mention to the [[All-America]] team, leading the team in scoring with 20 points per game.<ref name=earlyinfo/> He was a first-team [[List of All-Pacific-12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-PCC]] selection in 1950.

During the summer, Conley pitched semiprofessional baseball in [[Walla Walla, Washington]], in which scouts from almost every [[Major League Baseball]] team came to recruit him.<ref name=earlyinfo/> He also was getting contract offers to play professional basketball from the [[Minneapolis Lakers]] and the [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]. At first he declined the offers, saying that his family didn't want him to sign any professional contracts until he finished school.<ref name="contract">{{cite book |title=Baseball between the Lines: Baseball in the Forties and Fifties as Told by the Men Who Played It|author=Donald Honig|author-link=Donald Honig|date=January 1993|publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=0-8032-7268-5|pages=193–205 }}</ref> But the offers were getting bigger, and in August 1950 he signed a professional contract with the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] for a $3,000 bonus.<ref name=earlyinfo/>

== Minor league career ==

Conley attended [[spring training]] in 1951 and was assigned to Hartford of the [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]] by the request of former Braves star [[Tommy Holmes]], who was managing the club.<ref name=request>{{cite news|title=New Tempest Brews in Boston|author=Bob Ajemian|work=The Sporting News|page=14|date= April 18, 1951}}</ref> After a month, Conley had a record of five wins and only one loss and was praised by observers in the league, saying that he had the best fastball since former pitcher [[Van Lingle Mungo]] played in the league in 1933.<ref name=bestfastball>{{cite news|title=Eastern League|work=The Sporting News|page=30|date= May 30, 1951}}</ref> On June 10, he threw a [[one-hitter (baseball)|one-hitter]] against [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady Blue Jays]], giving up the lone hit in the seventh inning.<ref name=onehitterminors>{{cite news|title=Eastern League|work=The Sporting News|page=34|date= June 20, 1951}}</ref> Holmes was promoted to manager of the Braves on June 25, and was replaced by future [[Baseball Hall of Famer]] [[Travis Jackson]].<ref name=Jackson>{{cite news|title=Travis Jackson Replaced Holmes in Harford helm|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= July 4, 1951}}</ref>

By August 1, Conley had a record of 16 wins with only three losses, leading the league.<ref name=sixteenwins>{{cite news|title=Conley, 20, Tops E.L as Hill Winner|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= July 4, 1951}}</ref> He was unanimously selected to the Eastern League All-Star team on August 29.<ref name="Easternleague All-Star">{{cite news|title=Scranton Places 4 Players on Eastern League All-Star Team|work=The Sporting News|page=33|date= August 29, 1951}}</ref> He received the Eastern League MVP award that season after he became the first player in Hartford history to win twenty games in a single season.<ref name=firstMVP>{{cite news|title=Conley gets MVP award|work=The Sporting News|page=31|date= September 26, 1951}}</ref>

In the beginning of the 1952 season, Conley, along with fellow rookies [[George Crowe]] and [[Eddie Mathews]], was invited to spring training with a chance of making the roster.<ref name=makingroster>{{cite news|title=Ailing Braves to Try Old Fashioned Cure, More Daylightball|author=Al Hirshberg|author-link=Al Hirshberg|work=The Sporting News|page=20|date= December 12, 1951}}</ref> Around that time, the United States Army was drafting for the [[Korean War]]. Many major and minor league players were selected to fight in the war, depleting team rosters. Conley was deferred because of his height (6'8'), which was above the Army maximum height for a soldier.<ref name=army>{{cite news|title=Braves Official High on Six-Eight Rookie|author=Steve O'Leary|work=The Sporting News|page=11|date= November 21, 1951}}</ref>

==Major league career==

Conley's debut with the Boston Braves was April 17, 1952, versus the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], the Braves' third game of the regular season. Conley started and faced a lineup that included four future members of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[Roy Campanella]], [[Jackie Robinson]], [[Pee Wee Reese]] and [[Duke Snider]]. In four innings, Conley gave up four runs on 11 hits and two walks, taking the loss as the Dodgers prevailed 8–2.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195204170.shtml |title= Apr 17, 1952, Dodgers at Braves Box Score and Play by Play |website= Baseball-Reference.com |access-date= January 12, 2017 }}</ref> Conley lost his next three starts through early May, ending the season with an 0–4 record and a 7.82 ERA.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/conlege01.shtml |title=Gene Conley |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

Conley returned to the majors in 1954 with the Milwaukee Braves, going 14–9 in 28 games with a 2.82 ERA, making the National League All-Star team and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> behind [[Wally Moon]] and [[Ernie Banks]], with Conley's Braves teammate [[Hank Aaron]] finishing fourth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1954.shtml |title=1954 Awards Voting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

The following season in 1955, Conley was named to the All-Star game again, completing the season with an 11–7 record with a 4.16 ERA. Conley pitched for the Braves through 1959, compiling a record of 42–43 including an 0–6 record in his final season in Milwaukee.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" />

In his lone postseason appearance in the 1957 World Series on Oct. 5 against the [[New York Yankees]], Conley pitched {{frac|1|2|3}} innings in relief of starter [[Bob Buhl]], surrendering a two-run home run to [[Mickey Mantle]] as the Yankees went on to win the game 12–3; but with the Braves winning the series in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MLN/MLN195710050.shtml |title=Oct 5, 1957, Yankees at Braves Play by Play and Box Score |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

In the spring of 1959 with the Celtics in a playoff push, Conley delayed reporting to spring training with the Milwaukee Braves, prompting the team to trade Conley on March 31 to the [[Philadelphia Phillies|Phillies]].<ref name="SABR" /> Conley made his third and final All-Star game with the Phillies, going 12–7 with a 3.00 ERA,<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> with his season ending on August 19 after he was hit by a pitch while batting, breaking his hand.<ref name="SABR" />

After new contract talks bogged down on December 15, 1960, the Phillies traded Conley to the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]]; when he debuted with the Red Sox on April 28 against the [[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington Senators]], Conley became the first athlete to play for three professional teams in the same city along with the Celtics and his short stint with the Boston Braves in 1952.<ref name="SABR" /> In three seasons with the Red Sox through 1963, Conley had a 29–32 record,<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" /> with the win total including the final start of his major league career on Sept. 21, 1963, going six innings against the [[Minnesota Twins]] in an 11–2 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS196309212.shtml |title=Sep 21, 1963, Twins at Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 13, 2017}}</ref>

In 11 seasons pitching for the Braves, Phillies and Red Sox, Conley posted a 91–96 record with 888 [[strikeout]]s and a 3.82 [[earned run average|ERA]] in 1588.2 [[innings pitched|innings]].

Conley was an above average hitter for a pitcher, posting a .192 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (105-for-548) with 33 [[Run (baseball)|runs]], 19 [[doubles (baseball)|doubles]], 5 [[home runs]] and 45 [[Run batted in|RBI]] in 276 games. Defensively, he was below average, recording a .944 [[fielding percentage]], which was 14 points lower than the league average at his position.<ref name="Baseball-Reference.com" />

Conley was the winning [[pitcher]] in the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1955 All-Star Game]] and was selected for the 1954 and 1959 games.

Conley was the last living player to have played for both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves.

== Professional basketball career ==

In the middle of his first season of professional baseball, Conley agreed to sign with the [[Wilkes-Barre Barons]] of the struggling [[American Basketball League (1925–55)]].<ref name=startofbasketball>{{cite news |title= Eastern League |work=The Sporting News |page=33 |date= August 29, 1951 }}</ref>

On April 26, 1952, the Boston Celtics selected Conley with the 90th pick of the NBA draft.<ref>{{cite web |last=Husman |first= John M. |title= SABR Baseball Biography Project: Gene Conley |publisher= Society for American Baseball Research |url= http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f |access-date= January 12, 2017 }}</ref> Playing 39 games as a rookie in the 1952–53 NBA season, Conley averaged about 12 minutes a game for a Celtics team that went 45–26 in the regular season under [[Red Auerbach]].<ref name="Basketball-Reference.com">{{cite web |title=Gene Conley |publisher= Basketball-Reference.com |url= https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlege01.html |access-date=January 13, 2017 }}</ref> Conley did not play in the Celtics' two playoff series that season, with the team losing 3–1 in the Eastern Division finals to the [[New York Knicks]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1952–53 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1953.html |access-date=January 13, 2017 }}</ref>

After a five-year hiatus to focus on baseball with the Milwaukee Braves, Conley returned to the Celtics for the 1958–59 season, again seeing limited usage at about 13 minutes a game for a team that swept the Minneapolis Lakers 4–0 in the NBA finals. Conley averaged 4.2 points and 5.4 rebounds during the regular season and 4.9 points and 6.8 boards in the playoffs. Conley would have his best year as a Celtic the following season, averaging nearly 19 minutes a game during the regular season to score 6.7 points while hauling in 8.3 rebounds on average over 71 games in the regular season. The Celtics repeated as NBA champions with a ~~4-3~~4–3 finals win over the [[St. Louis Hawks]], with Conley roughly duplicating his regular -season averages during the playoffs.<ref name="Basketball-Reference.com" />

Conley would play on one more championship Celtics team during the 1960–61 season, culminating in a 4–1 defeat of the Hawks. Conley skipped the following NBA season while pitching for the Red Sox, then joined the New York Knicks where he averaged 9.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 70 games during the 1962–63 season, before his minutes dropped precipitously the following year which was his last in the NBA.<ref name="Basketball-Reference.com" />

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In six seasons in the NBA, Conley averaged 5.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 16.5 minutes of playing time. Conley's No. 17 would subsequently be assigned to [[John Havlicek]] and then retired by the Celtics in recognition of Havlicek's career.<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print" />

"When I look back, I don't know how I did it, I really don't", Conley was quoted saying in 2008 by the Los Angeles Times, on playing two professional sports in tandem. "I think I was having so much fun that it kept me going. I can't remember a teammate I didn't enjoy."<ref>[https://~~articles~~www.latimes.com/~~2008~~archives/la-xpm-2008-sep/-01~~/sports/~~-sp-crowe1-story.html He put in some double time in the big leagues]</ref>

When Abe Saperstein's [[American Basketball League (1961–62)]] was born in 1961, Tuck Tape Company owner Paul Cohen purchased a franchise, gave it the Tapers name, and placed it in [[Washington, D.C.]]; the team played its games in the [[Uline Arena|Washington Coliseum]]. Conley signed with the team. While with the Tapers, Conley often accompanied Cohen on sales calls for his company and gained industry experience.<ref>{{cite web |last=Husman|first=John M. ~~|date=~~ |title=SABR Baseball Biography Project: Gene Conley|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f|access-date=January 18, 2016 }}</ref>

Conley is one of 13 athletes to have played in both the [[National Basketball Association]] and [[Major League Baseball]]. The thirteen are: [[Danny Ainge]], [[Frank Baumholtz]], [[Hank Biasatti]], Conley, [[Chuck Connors]], [[Dave DeBusschere]], [[~~Johnny~~Dick ~~Gee~~Groat]], [[~~Dick~~Steve ~~Groat]]~~Hamilton (sportsman, [[born 1934)|Steve Hamilton]], [[Mark Hendrickson]], [[Cotton Nash]], [[Ron Reed]], [[Dick Ricketts]] and [[Howie Schultz]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/baseball_and_basketball_players.shtml|title = Baseball (MLB) and Basketball (NBA) Players | Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

== Retirement ==

After his retirement from professional sports, Conley started working for a [[duct tape]] company in [[Boston, Massachusetts]].<ref name=retirement>{{cite web|title=Timeout with Gene Conley|author=Jeff Twiss|url=http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/WhereAreTheyNowGeneConley.html|~~accessdate~~access-date=January 5, 2008| ~~publisher~~work = NBA.com}}</ref> After a year working there, the owner of the duct tape company died. Conley later founded his own paper company, Foxboro Paper Company, which he owned for 36 years until he retired from the business.

The Washington Sports Hall of Fame included Conley in its 1979 class of inductees.<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web|title="1979 Inductees|url=https://washingtonsportshof.org/1979-inductees/|~~accessdate~~access-date=January 13, 2017| publisher = Washington State Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref>

Until December 2009, Conley lived in [[Clermont, Florida]], where he played [[golf]] and watched the [[Orlando Magic]] play in his free time. He moved to his vacation home in [[Waterville Valley]], [[New Hampshire]], in 2010.<ref name=retirement/>

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== Personal life ==

Conley's mother was of [[Cherokee]] heritage and stood {{convert|6|ft|2|abbr=on}} tall.<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print" /> Eugene was a citizen of the [[Cherokee Nation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/2-sport-star-gene-conley-dies-at-age-86/article_d544a8d2-9668-5be9-9a02-b18090647bc3.html |title=2-sport star Gene Conley dies at age 86 |date=11 July 2017 |work=[[Cherokee Phoenix]] |accessdate=2021-10-17}}</ref>

In the spring of 1951, Conley married Kathryn Dizney whom he met the previous fall.<ref>http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f "Gene Conley." Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 12, 2017</ref> They had three children and seven grandchildren.<ref name=family>{{cite web|title=Double play Catching up with Gene Conley|author=Jon Goode|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2005/03/02/double_play/|date=March 2, 2005|access-date=January 5, 2008 |publisher=Boston.com}}</ref> In 2004, his wife released a biography of Conley called ''One of a Kind'' that chronicled his life in both baseball and basketball and related how his family dealt with his being gone for most of the year.<ref name=boookbio>{{cite web|title=Gene Conley: One of a Kind|author=Melanie Curtsinger |url=http://www.nba.com/magic/news/Gene_Conley_One_of_a_Kind-132528-800.html|access-date=January 5, 2008 |publisher=Orlando Magic}}</ref>

In the days following July 27, 1962, Conley made headlines after exiting a Red Sox team bus that was stuck in New York City traffic with teammate [[Pumpsie Green]] to find a restroom, with the bus driver subsequently driving away without the players on board. As Conley recollected the episode in a 2004 interview with the ''Boston Globe'': "So we got off and went in this bar, and when we came back out, Pumpsie said, 'Hey, that bus is gone,' and I said, 'We are, too!'"<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print" /> Conley and Green checked into a hotel, with Green rejoining the team the next day in Washington, D.C., but Conley taking a hiatus during which he attracted media attention in attempting to fly to [[Jerusalem]]. As told by Conley, Red Sox owner [[Tom Yawkey]] fined him $1,500 with the promise he would refund the money at the end of the season if Conley rededicated himself to the team; Yawkey fulfilled the promise in September.<ref>{{cite book |last=Golenbock |first=Peter |date=2015 |title=Red Sox Nation: The Rich and Colorful History of the Boston Red Sox |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ggPooQEACAAJ&q=red+sox+nation+peter+golenbock |location=Chicago, Ill. |publisher=Triumph Books LLC |pages=255–262 |isbn=978-1-62937-050-7}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===NBA===

Source<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlege01.html|title=Gene Conley Stats|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|accessdate=8 September 2023}}</ref>

====Regular season====

In the spring of 1951, Conley married Kathryn Dizney whom he met the previous fall.<ref>http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f "Gene Conley." Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 12, 2017</ref> They had three children and seven grandchildren.<ref name=family>{{cite web|title=Double play Catching up with Gene Conley|author=Jon Goode|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2005/03/02/double_play/|date=March 2, 2005|accessdate=January 5, 2008| publisher = Boston.com}}</ref> In 2004, his wife released a biography of Conley called ''One of a Kind'' that chronicled his life in both baseball and basketball and related how his family dealt with his being gone for most of the year.<ref name=boookbio>{{cite web|title=Gene Conley: One of a Kind|author=Melanie Curtsinger |url=http://www.nba.com/magic/news/Gene_Conley_One_of_a_Kind-132528-800.html|accessdate=January 5, 2008| publisher = Orlando Magic}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"

!Year

!Team

!GP

!MPG

!FG%

!FT%

!RPG

!APG

!PPG

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1952–53 NBA season|1952–53]]

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1952-53 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|39 || 11.8 || .324 || .581 || 4.4 || .5 || 2.3

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1958–59 NBA season|1958–59]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1958–59 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|50 || 13.3 || .328 || .578 || 5.5 || .4 || 4.2

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1959–60 NBA season|1959–60]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1959-60 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|71 || 18.7 || .373 || .667 || '''8.3''' || .5 || 6.7

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1960–61 NBA season|1960–61]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1960–61 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|'''75''' || 16.6 || .370 || '''.693''' || 7.3 || .5 || 6.3

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1962–63 NBA season|1962–63]]

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1962–63 New York Knicks season|New York]]

|70 || '''22.1''' || .390 || .656 || 6.7 || '''1.0''' || '''9.0'''

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1963–64 NBA season|1963–64]]

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1963–64 New York Knicks season|New York]]

|46 || 12.0 || '''.392''' || .677 || 3.4 || .5 || 4.2

|-class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" |Career

|351 || 16.5 || .371 || .657 || 6.3 || .6 || 5.9

====Playoffs====

In the days following July 27, 1962, Conley made headlines after exiting a Red Sox team bus that was stuck in New York City traffic with teammate [[Pumpsie Green]] to find a restroom, with the bus driver subsequently driving away without the players on board. As Conley recollected the episode in a 2004 interview with the Boston Globe: "So we got off and went in this bar, and when we came back out, Pumpsie said, 'Hey, that bus is gone,' and I said, 'We are, too!'"<ref name="Conley's stories fit to print" /> Conley and Green checked into a hotel, with Green rejoining the team the next day in Washington, D.C., but Conley taking a hiatus during which he attracted media attention in attempting to fly to [[Jerusalem]]. As told by Conley, Red Sox owner [[Tom Yawkey]] fined him $1,500 with the promise he would refund the money at the end of the season if Conley rededicated himself to the team, with Yawkey fulfilling the promise in September.<ref>{{cite book |last=Golenbock |first=Peter |date=2015 |title=Red Sox Nation: The Rich and Colorful History of the Boston Red Sox |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ggPooQEACAAJ&dq=red+sox+nation+peter+golenbock&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCoqWvo7DRAhWi6oMKHfewBHYQ6AEIHDAA |location=Chicago, Ill. |publisher=Triumph Books LLC |pages=255–262 |isbn=978-1-62937-050-7}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"

!Year

!Team

!GP

!MPG

!FG%

!FT%

!RPG

!APG

!PPG

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1959 NBA playoffs|1959]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1958–59 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|11 || 14.3 || .364 || .462 || 6.8 || '''.6''' || 4.9

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1960 NBA playoffs|1960]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1959–60 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|'''13''' || '''20.7''' || '''.386''' || '''.727''' || '''8.9''' || .2 || '''6.7'''

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|[[1961 NBA playoffs|1961]]†

|style="text-align:left;"|[[1960–61 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]

|9 || 6.2 || .364 || .583 || 3.4 || .1 || 3.4

|-class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

|33 || 14.6 || .374 || .617 || 6.7 || .3 || 5.1

==Footnotes==

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==External links==

;Baseball:

*{{~~baseballstats~~Baseballstats |mlb=112562 |espn=20355 |br=c/conlege01 |fangraphs=1002507 |brm=conley001don |retro=C/Pconlg101 }}

*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|b5fecb6f}}

*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/b5fecb6f Gene Conley] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)

*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=conlege01 Gene Conley] at Baseball Almanac

*[https://~~web.archive.org/web/20040613143711/http://www.baseballlibrary~~baseballbiography.com/~~baseballlibrary/ballplayers/C/Conley_Gene.stm~~gene-conley Gene Conley] at Baseball ~~Library~~Biography

~~:<br>~~

;Basketball:

*{{~~basketballstats~~Basketballstats |nba=76428 |espn= |bbr=c/conlege01 }}, or [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/gene-conley-1.html College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com]

*[https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/01/13/conley_had_twice_as_much_fun/ Conley had twice as much fun] at [[The Boston Globe]]

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