Bobby Clack

Robert Suter Clack
(Gentlemanly Bob)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 153 lb.

• Debut May 13, 1874
• Final Game October 9, 1876
• Born June 13, 1850 in Shoreditch, London, England
• Died October 22, 1933 in Danvers, MA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

According to the book Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting, Bobby Clack may hold the honor of being the first pinch-hitter in the National League on May 13, 1876. He played in the National Association and the NL (1874 to 1876), never managing to hit over .200 (.154 in 82 games). In addition to his playing record in 1876, he also umpired five games. He was on the 1877 Binghamton Cricket baseball team and the 1878 Utica team, both times as a teammate of John Richmond and Pop Smith.

One fan put him on "The All-Onomatopoeic Team" with players such as Eric Plunk and Elmer Klumpp. Sporting Life, in 1909, reported that Clack had, for many years, been a resident of Massachusetts and that he looked hale and hearty. He died in 1933 at the age of 83.