David Clyde at 70

(Dallas Morning News photo)

Happy 70th birthday today to onetime wunderkind David Clyde, whom the Texas Rangers select with the first overall pick of the 1973 amateur draft.

Instead of starting their prize draft choice in the minor leagues, the Rangers decide the 18-year-old Clyde will make his debut in the majors.

Clyde is predictably sporadically brilliant in his debut as he allows two runs on only one hit over five innings while striking out eight and walking seven.

He lasts long enough to earn the victory in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins before a Wednesday night crowd of 35,698 in Arlington, Texas.

The rest of Clyde’s career, though, does not go so well as the left-hander lasts just all or parts of five seasons in the majors, going 18-33 with a 4.63 earned-run average and 180 walks with 228 strikeouts in 416 innings.