Tony Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tony Clark |
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Clark with the San Diego Padres in 2008
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: June 15, 1972 Newton, Kansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 3, 1995, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 12, 2009, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 251 | ||
| Runs batted in | 824 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Tony Clark (born June 15, 1972) is an American professional baseball player and leader. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2009. After his playing career, he became the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) in 2013. This group represents all MLB players.
Tony Clark had his best years playing for the Detroit Tigers from 1995 to 2001. He also played for other teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres. He could hit from both sides of the plate (a switch hitter) and threw with his right hand. In 1996, he was one of the top rookies, and in 2001, he was chosen as an All-Star.
While he was a player, Tony Clark helped represent other players in the union. After he stopped playing, he joined the MLBPA staff in 2010. He worked his way up and became the executive director in 2013. He is the first former player to lead the MLBPA.
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Tony Clark's Early Sports Life
Tony Clark went to Valhalla High School in California. He later moved to Christian High School. In his senior year, he was amazing at basketball, scoring 43.7 points per game.
He also played college basketball at the University of Arizona and San Diego State University. At San Diego State, he was the top scorer for the Aztecs in 1991–92. Tony Clark left college to focus on his baseball career.
Tony Clark's Baseball Career
During his 15 years in professional baseball, Tony Clark played in 1,559 games played. He had a batting average of .262, hit 251 home runs, and had 824 run batted in (RBIs).
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers picked Tony Clark as their second overall choice in the 1990 MLB draft right after he finished high school. He played in Minor League Baseball while he was still in college and playing basketball.
In 1996, he was one of the top three players considered for Rookie of the Year. That year, he hit .250 with 27 home runs.
His best years with the Tigers were:
- 1997: 32 home runs and 117 RBIs.
- 1998: 34 home runs and 103 RBIs.
- 1999: 31 home runs and 99 RBIs.
In 2001, Tony Clark was chosen to be an All-Star.
Time with the Red Sox and Mets
After his time with the Tigers, Tony Clark joined the Boston Red Sox in 2002. He played 90 games for them, hitting .207 with 3 home runs.
In 2003, he signed with the New York Mets. He batted .232 during his time with the Mets.
Playing for the New York Yankees
Tony Clark joined the New York Yankees in 2004 as a player who could come off the bench. He got more playing time when Jason Giambi was injured.
On August 28, 2004, Tony Clark had a fantastic game. He hit three home runs in one game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
Years with the Arizona Diamondbacks
After the 2004 season, Tony Clark signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2005, he played in a limited number of games but hit very well. He had a .307 batting average, 30 home runs, and 87 RBIs.
In 2006, he was injured for most of the season. He tried to play through a shoulder injury, which affected his performance. In 2007, he shared the first base position with another player and batted .249.
Short Time with the San Diego Padres
In 2008, Tony Clark signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. However, on July 17, 2008, he was traded back to the Diamondbacks. He agreed to give up some money he was owed by the Padres to make the trade happen.
Between both teams in 2008, he batted .225. He also struck out a lot, especially against right-handed pitchers.
Returning to Arizona
Tony Clark signed another one-year deal to stay with the Diamondbacks in 2009. On Opening Day 2009, he hit two home runs, helping the Diamondbacks win. His teammate, Felipe López, also hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. This was the first time two teammates had done this on an Opening Day.
However, after that great start, Tony Clark struggled. He got a wrist injury that made it hard for him to swing from the left side. He was placed on the disabled list in May.
When he returned to the team in June, he continued to struggle with his hitting and defense. On July 12, 2009, the Diamondbacks released him. He was hitting .182 at the time. Tony Clark said he would look for another team, but if not, he would consider broadcasting or coaching.
Post-Season Play
Tony Clark played in four post-season series during his career. He played two series for the Yankees and two for the Diamondbacks. In these games, he batted .135 and drove in one run.
Tony Clark and the MLB Players Association
Throughout his time as a player, Tony Clark was very involved with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). This is the union that works for the rights of baseball players. He attended meetings and was a player representative for his teams. He also helped with important discussions about player contracts and drug policies in 2002 and 2006.
In March 2010, Tony Clark was hired to work for the MLBPA as the Director of Player Relations. In 2013, after the death of the previous director, Michael Weiner, Tony Clark was chosen to be the new executive director of the MLBPA. He was the first former major league player to hold this important position.
Tony Clark led the MLBPA during the 2021-22 MLB lockout, which was a time when players and team owners could not agree on rules. He also worked to help minor league baseball players form a union in 2022. In September 2022, the MLBPA joined the AFL-CIO, a large group of unions. After the 2022 season, Tony Clark's contract as executive director was extended for five more years.
Tony Clark's Nickname
When Tony Clark played for the Detroit Tigers, fans and the media called him "Tony the Tiger." This nickname came from the famous cartoon mascot, Tony the Tiger, who is known for the cereal Frosted Flakes. It was a fun way to connect him to the team's name.
Tony Clark's Personal Life
Tony Clark is married to Frances, and they have one son. They live in Phoenix, Arizona. They used to live in New York.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
