Jack Clark (baseball)
| Jack Clark | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Right fielder / First baseman / Designated hitter | |
| Born: November 10, 1955 New Brighton, Pennsylvania |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 12, 1975 for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 28, 1992 for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 340 |
| Runs batted in | 1,180 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jack Anthony Clark (born November 10, 1955 in New Brighton, Pennsylvania), also known as "Jack the Ripper," is a former Major League Baseball player. From 1975 through 1992, Clark played for the San Francisco Giants (1975–84), St. Louis Cardinals (1985–87), New York Yankees (1988), San Diego Padres (1989–90) and Boston Red Sox (1991–92). He batted and threw right-handed.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Clark started his major league career with the San Francisco Giants in 1975 as a right fielder and the youngest player in 1975 (19). But Clark hated the Giants' Candlestick Park, a notoriously bad park for power hitters because of the wind coming off of the San Francisco Bay. He won the first Willie Mac Award in 1980 for his spirit and leadership.
On February 1, 1985, Clark was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for shortstop José Uribe, pitcher Dave LaPoint, and first basemen-outfielders David Green and Gary Rajsich. He switched to first base to reduce risk of injury. His three- run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game 6 of the 1985 NLCS was the pennant-clinching hit for the Cardinals. Clark's fielding, never his specialty, played a pivotal role in the 1985 World Series. Umpire Don Denkinger's notorious controversial call in Game 6 came from Clark's throw to Todd Worrell at first. Clark would later misplay a foul popup that, while not ruled an error, should have been caught. Darrell Porter later admitted that he called off Clark but hesitated at the last minute when he thought Clark had called for the catch, which Clark had not. This opened the door for the Kansas City Royals to score two runs in the bottom of the 9th to win Game 6, and go on to capture the World Series in Game 7 the following night.
In 1987, Clark had probably his best season. He hit .286 with 35 home runs, 106 RBI, and led the league in on-base percentage (.459) and slugging percentage (.597). He accomplished all this despite missing 31 games due to nagging injuries and finished 3rd in the MVP vote. Clark again led the Cardinals to the World Series that year, although an ankle injury limited him to one at-bat in the postseason.
Clark signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees prior to the 1988 season. He was primarily a designated hitter, because of the presence of Don Mattingly at first base. At the end of the season, he requested a trade.[1][2]
Clark was traded to the San Diego Padres with Pat Clements for Lance McCullers, Jimmy Jones, and Stan Jefferson.[3] He played for the Padres for two seasons. He then returned to the American League as a DH with the Boston Red Sox. He was waived by Boston in February 1993 and was signed by the Montreal Expos during 1993 spring training. He was released later that year and never made an official at bat with the Expos. He retired shortly after. A four-time All-Star, Clark also won the Silver Slugger Award in 1985 and 1987.
In an 18-season career, Clark was a .267 hitter with 340 home runs and 1180 RBI in 1994 games. He also collected 1118 runs, 332 doubles, 77 stolen bases, and 1826 hits in 6847 at-bats.
In October 2008, Clark was named manager of the Springfield Sliders (Springfield Illinois) of the Central Illinois Collegiate League (renamed Prospect League in 2009).[4]
Clark is second all-time with 18 extra-inning home runs.[citation needed]
[edit] Bankruptcy
Clark was driven into bankruptcy in 1992 by his appetite for luxury cars. According to his bankruptcy filing, he owned 18 luxury automobiles, including a $700,000 Ferrari and a Rolls Royce. Clark was trying to pay 17 car notes simultaneously, and whenever he got bored with a car he would get rid of it and just buy another one. He ended up losing his 2.4 million-dollar home and his drag-racing business because of his extravagant spending habits. Despite one of the most publicized bankruptcies in baseball, Clark reportedly got back on his feet in the late 1990s.[5]
[edit] See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/05/sports/miserable-week-for-the-yankees.html
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/21/sports/steinbrenner-is-willing-to-trade-clark.html
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/25/sports/yankees-trade-clark-to-the-padres.html
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/06/06/2009-06-06_jack_clark.html
- ^ Former Big-League Star Clark Rebuilds After Bankruptcy
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Baseball Evolution Hall of Fame - Player Profile
- http://stl.sabr.org/fungoes/?p=723
- NY Times article "Jack Clark Files for Bankruptcy"
| Preceded by Rick Monday |
National League Player of the Month May, 1978 |
Succeeded by Dave Winfield |
| Preceded by Rick Down |
Los Angeles Dodgers Hitting Coach 2001-2003 |
Succeeded by George Hendrick |
|
|||||
- 1955 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball right fielders
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- Major League Baseball designated hitters
- Baseball players from Pennsylvania
- Major League Baseball hitting coaches
- Minor league baseball managers
- National League All-Stars
- San Francisco Giants players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- New York Yankees players
- San Diego Padres players
- Boston Red Sox players
- Los Angeles Dodgers coaches
