Former Yankees' Clay Arrested

Appeared In 1978 World Series For New York

(AP) 
Former Yankees pitcher Ken Clay was arrested for allegedly stealing a woman's identification and then leasing a truck and obtaining credit cards in her name.

Clay, 45, who appeared for New York in the 1978 World Series, was released from Manatee County jail on Tuesday after posting $32,000 bond, said Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow. Arraignment is set for Dec. 30.

Clay, arrested Monday, is charged with five counts of forgery, five counts of scheming to defraud, nine counts of uttering a forged instrument and four counts of grand theft.

He is accused of using the identification of a Glen Allen, Va., woman that Bristow described as an old acquaintance to lease a Nissan Pathfinder in March 1998.

Clay also used her identification to obtain insurance for the truck and obtain numerous credit cards and a checking account, Bristow said.

Clay, who has been charged with fraud in the past, used at least one of the credit cards at a casino in Las Vegas, Bristow said.

"She had no earthly clue what was going on," said Bristow.

Clay ran up more than $50,000 in unpaid leases and credit card bills between March 1998 and May 1999, according to sheriff's reports.

Detectives began investigating in May after being tipped by law enforcement officials in Virginia. An acquaintance of Clay's called police in Virginia after she learned Clay leased the truck in her name in Manatee County, Bristow said.

Clay pitched for Texas in 1980 and Seattle in 1981, retiring after 111 major league games, a 10-24 record and a 4.68 earned run average.