Phil Clark (clarkph02)

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PhilClarkINF.jpg

Phillip Benjamin Clark

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Biographical Information[edit]

Phil Clark had an impressive debut in the majors in 1992 when he hit .407/.467/.537 in 23 games with the Detroit Tigers. Phil had played in the Tigers' minor league organization from 1986-1992, hitting .332 in the rookie league and generally hitting around .300 at higher levels. Incredibly, after this hot showing, Phil was waived, moving to the San Diego Padres in 1993, missing playing with his brother, Jerald Clark, by one season. In his longest big league look, he hit .313/.345/.496 with 9 home runs in 102 games (240 at bats). But he fell hard, batting .215 combined the next two seasons, earning a final three-game look with the Boston Red Sox after a solid .325 campaign (with a .531 slugging) for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1996.

Phil embarked on a strong career in Nippon Pro Baseball, earning three Best Nine Awards in four seasons with the Kintetsu Buffaloes, where he teamed with fellow gaijin Tuffy Rhodes. Phil placed second in the 1997 Pacific League batting race to Ichiro Suzuki, batting .331 with 23 home runs. In 1998, he established a NPB record for a season with 48 doubles, batting .320 with 31 home runs and 114 RBI. Injuries sapped his effectiveness after that, and he was released after missing much of 2000 due to a bad hit by pitch.

Clark was a coach for the GCL Indians in 2007-2008, Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2009, Lake County Captains in 2010, Kinston Indians in 2011, Columbus Clippers from 2012-2013 and Mahoning Valley again in 2014. Clark moved to the Detroit Tigers' chain as a coach for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2015 and Erie SeaWolves from 2016-2017. In 2018, he was named assistant hitting coach of the major league Tigers, staying until the end of the 2020 season.

In addition to big league brother Jerald, Phil is also the brother of minor leaguer Isaiah Clark.

Related Sites[edit]