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 on June 15, 1972, is an American who played professional baseball. After his playing career, he became an important leader for baseball players.
He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2009. Since 2013, he has been the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), which is like a union for baseball players.
Tony played for 15 years, mostly with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres. Tony was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate. He was chosen as an All-Star in 2001.
While he was a player, Tony was a representative for the players' union. After he stopped playing, he joined the MLBPA staff in 2010. He worked his way up and became the executive director in December 2013. Tony Clark is the first former player to lead the MLBPA.
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Tony Clark's Early Life and Sports
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.
Tony 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 the 1991–92 season. Tony decided to leave college to focus only on baseball.
Tony Clark's Baseball Career
During his 15 years in professional baseball, Tony Clark had a batting average of .262. He hit 251 home runs and had 824 run batted in (RBIs) in 1,559 games.
Starting with 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 also going to college and playing basketball.
In 1996, Tony finished third in the voting for Rookie of the Year. That year, he batted .250 and hit 27 home runs.
His best years with the Tigers were from 1997 to 1999. In 1997, he hit 32 home runs and had 117 RBIs. In 1998, he hit 34 home runs and had 103 RBIs. In 1999, he hit 31 home runs and had 99 RBIs.
Tony was chosen to be an All-Star in 2001, which is a big honor for a player.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time with the Tigers, Tony Clark played for several other teams.
Boston Red Sox and New York Mets
In 2002, Tony joined the Boston Red Sox. He didn't have his best year, hitting only .207 with 3 home runs. After that season, he signed with the New York Mets for 2003, where he batted .232.
New York Yankees
In 2004, Tony signed with the New York Yankees as a player who would come off the bench. He got more playing time when another player, Jason Giambi, was injured. On August 28, Tony hit three home runs in one game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Tony Clark joined the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2004 season. In 2005, even though he had fewer chances to bat, he hit very well, with a .307 batting average, 30 home runs, and 87 RBIs.
In 2006, Tony was hurt for most of the season. He tried to play with a shoulder injury, but his batting average dropped to .197. In 2007, he shared the first base position with another player and batted .249.
San Diego Padres and Return to Arizona
In 2008, Tony signed with the San Diego Padres. Later that year, he was traded back to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Between both teams in 2008, he batted .225.
Tony signed another contract with the Diamondbacks for 2009. On Opening Day 2009, he hit two home runs, helping his team win. However, he struggled after that and was placed on the disabled list due to a wrist injury.
When he returned, he continued to struggle with his hitting and even made a rare error on defense. On July 12, 2009, the Diamondbacks released Tony Clark. He said he would consider coaching or broadcasting in the future.
Tony Clark and the MLB Players Association
Throughout his baseball career, Tony Clark was very involved with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). This organization works to protect the rights and interests of baseball players. He was a team representative and helped with important talks about player contracts and drug policies.
In March 2010, Tony was hired to work for the MLBPA as the Director of Player Relations. After the death of the previous executive director, Tony Clark was chosen to lead the MLBPA in December 2013. He made history as the first former major league player to hold this important position.
Tony led the MLBPA during the 2021-22 MLB lockout, which was a time when players and team owners had disagreements. In 2022, he and the MLBPA also worked to help minor league baseball players form a union. The MLBPA joined the AFL-CIO, a large group of unions, in September 2022. Tony's contract to lead the MLBPA was extended for five more years after the 2022 season.
Tony Clark's Nickname
When Tony Clark played for the Detroit Tigers, fans and the media called him "Tony the Tiger." This fun nickname came from the famous cartoon mascot Tony the Tiger from Frosted Flakes cereal, and because he played for the Tigers team.
Tony Clark's Family Life
Tony Clark and his wife, Frances, have one son. They live in Phoenix, Arizona.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
