Nig Clarke
From BR Bullpen
Jay Justin Clarke
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut April 26, 1905
- Final Game April 24, 1920
- Born December 15, 1882 in Amherstburg, ON CAN
- Died June 15, 1949 in River Rouge, MI USA
Contents |
[edit] Texas League career
On June 15, 1902, Clarke was playing for Corsicana in the Texas League in a game against Texarkana. Playing away from their normal park to avoid blue laws, Clarke set the record for the most homers in a game in professional baseball. Clarke went 8 for 8 in Ennis Park that day, with each hit being a home run. Corsicana won the game 51-3. However, this fact has been disputed.
Clarke hit more home runs in that single game than in 506 major league games where he hit six career home runs.
[edit] Perfect game
Clarke's other claim to fame was as the catcher of a perfect game on October 2, 1908 for Addie Joss. It was just the fourth perfect game in major league history.
[edit] The Nickname
In the first half of the 20th Century, before the game was integrated, ball players with a dark complexion were sometimes nicknamed "Nig." [1] [2] In addition to Clarke, the following other major league players bore the nickname: Johnny Beazley (1941-49), Joe Berry (1921-22), Bobby Bragan (1940-48), Nig Cuppy (1892-1901), Nig Fuller (1902), Johnny Grabowski (1923-31), Nig Lipscomb (1937), Charlie Niebergall (1921-24), Nig Perrine (1907), and Frank Smith (1904-15).
[edit] Career Statistics
| Season | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 overall | 45 | 130 | 27 | .208 | 1 | 10 |
| 1905 Cleveland Naps | 5 | 9 | 1 | .111 | 0 | 1 |
| 1905 Detroit Tigers | 3 | 7 | 3 | .429 | 1 | 1 |
| 1905 Cleveland Naps | 37 | 114 | 23 | .202 | 0 | 8 |
| 1906 Cleveland Naps | 57 | 179 | 64 | .358 | 1 | 21 |
| 1907 Cleveland Naps | 120 | 390 | 105 | .269 | 3 | 33 |
| 1908 Cleveland Naps | 97 | 290 | 70 | .241 | 1 | 27 |
| 1909 Cleveland Naps | 55 | 164 | 45 | .274 | 0 | 14 |
| 1910 Cleveland Naps | 21 | 58 | 9 | .155 | 0 | 2 |
| 1911 St. Louis Browns | 82 | 256 | 55 | .210 | 0 | 18 |
| 1919 Philadelphia Phillies | 26 | 62 | 15 | .242 | 0 | 2 |
| 1920 Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | 7 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Career statistics | 506 | 1536 | 390 | .254 | 6 | 127 |
