Ron Clark

From BR Bullpen

Note: This page discusses 1960s and 1970s infielder Ron Clark. For the college coach of the same name, click here.

RonClark.jpg

Ronald Bruce Clark

BR page

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

Related Sites[edit]