Ron Clark
Note: This page discusses 1960s and 1970s infielder Ron Clark. For the college coach of the same name, click here.
Ronald Bruce Clark
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
- High School Brewer High School
- Debut September 11, 1966
- Final Game September 26, 1975
- Born January 14, 1943 in Fort Worth, TX USA
Biographical Information[edit]
"Another infielder got racked up during the game. Ron Clark collided with George Scott of the Red Sox and had thirteen stitches taken in his lip. Ron's a tough, gutty little ballplayer. He has a baby face, two tattoos on his arm (one says "Mother" and the other is of a black panther), smokes big cigars -- and when he has thirteen stitches in his lip he drinks beer out of the side of his mouth." - Jim Bouton, Ball Four
Ron Clark cracked a single in his lone at bat in 1966 to finish his first (abbreviated, 5 game) season at 1.000, but his bat would never be so robust again. In 530 total at bats, most of which came with the Minnesota Twins, he hit just .189 with 5 home runs. He also appeared briefly for four other teams, including the infamous Seattle Pilots of 1969.
Following his playing career, Ron was a minor league manager and a big league coach with the Chicago White Sox from 1988 to 1990, the Seattle Mariners in 1991, and the Cleveland Indians in 1992 and 1993.
" I faced Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Al Kaline, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Frank Howard, and Carl Yastrzemski, but the toughest player to pitch to was a guy by the name of Ron Clark. . . I faced him six times, and he hit a home run, triple, double, two singles, and walked once." - pitcher Larry Burchart [1]
Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Spartanburg Phillies | Western Carolinas League | 73-67 | 3rd (t) | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1979 | Peninsula Pilots | Carolina League | 60-60 | 3rd | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1980 | Reading Phillies | Eastern League | 78-61 | 2nd (t) | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1981 | Reading Phillies | Eastern League | 76-63 | 3rd | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1982 | Oklahoma City 89ers | American Association | 20-46 | -- | Philadelphia Phillies | replaced by Cot Deal | |
| 1983 | Kinston Blue Jays | Carolina League | 51-64 | -- | Toronto Blue Jays | replaced by Doug Ault (11-12) on August 12 | |
| 1984 | Peninsula Pilots | Carolina League | 73-67 | 3rd | Philadelphia Phillies | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1985 | Peninsula Pilots | Carolina League | 67-68 | 3rd | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1986 | Clearwater Phillies | Florida State League | 63-74 | 8th | Philadelphia Phillies | ||
| 1995 | Iowa Cubs | American Association | 69-74 | 5th | Chicago Cubs | ||
| 1996 | Iowa Cubs | American Association | 64-78 | 6th | Chicago Cubs |
Further Reading[edit]
- Andy Sturgill: "Ron Clark", in Chip Greene, ed.: Mustaches and Mayhem, Charlie O's Three-Time Champions: The Oakland Athletics 1972-74, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 161-163. ISBN 978-1-943816-07-1
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