Mike Clark

Note: This page links to 1950s pitcher Mike Clark. For the Denison 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

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Mike Clark signed as an amateur free agent right after high school graduation with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1940. They assigned him to the Class D Hamilton Red Wings, where he appeared in 21 games, going 3-4. 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 US Navy and World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater of War. Mike arrived in time for the 1946 season with the Class A Columbus Cardinals, where he pitched four consecutive seasons, going 55-43 with a four-year ERA of 3.07.

After going 9-5 with a 1.90 ERA for the AA Houston Buffaloes in 1952, Mike got the call to Sportsman's Park, after a dozen years in the sticks. Used exclusively out of the bullpen in 1952 and 1953, he was 3-0 with a 5.31 ERA and a save in 35 games. Clark headed back to the minors after, spending his next six seasons pitching in the Southern Association and also the Texas League, ending his career with the Houston Buffs of the American Association in 1959. Overall in the minors, Mike made 549 appearances over 17 seasons, with a 163-146 (.527) record. He pitched 2,722 innings, allowing 2,640 hits, 1,013 walks and 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.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page