Mike Clark
From BR Bullpen
Note: This page links to 1950s pitcher Mike Clark. For the college coach, click here.
Michael John Clark
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut July 27, 1952
- Final Game July 18, 1953
- Born February 12, 1922 in Camden, NJ USA
- Died January 25, 1996 in Camden, NJ USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Before the 1940 season Mike Clark was signed right after high school graduation by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent. They assigned the 6' 4" righthander to the class D Hamilton Red Wings where he appeared in 21 games his initial season, winning 3 and losing 4. The 18-year-old was back with Hamilton in 1941, going 15-12 with a 3.22 ERA.
Mike spent the next season with the AA Rochester Red Wings and the class B Mobile Shippers, combining for a 4-3 record, before leaving for the United States Navy and World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater of War. Mike arrived back in time for the 1946 season with the class A Columbus Cardinals, where he pitched four consecutive seasons, winding up through 1949 with a 55-43 record and a four-year ERA of 3.07.
After going 9-5 with a 1.90 ERA for the AA Houston Buffaloes in 1952, he got the call to Sportsman's Park at age 30, a dozen years after starting out in pro ball. Used exclusively out of the bullpen by the Cardinals in 1952 and 1953, he won all three of his decisions in 35 games. This would be the last Mike would see of the big leagues, but not of baseball.
King headed back to the minors, where he spent his next six seasons pitching in the Southern Association and also the Texas League, winding up his career with the Houston Buffs of the American Association in 1959.
This man was a pitching machine. When he retired from pro baseball in 1959 he had been on the mound for 17 active seasons. In the minors he made 549 appearances, winning 163 games and losing 146, for a .527 percentage. He also pitched 2,722 innings, giving up 2,640 base hits along with 1,013 base on balls and gave up 1,078 earned runs for a career 3.75 ERA.
Clark, who had been a bartender in Bellmawr, New Jersey, died January 25, 1996, at age 73 in Camden, NJ.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
