Tony Clark
Born: 6/15/1972 in Newton, KS, USA
MLB Debut: 1995-09-03 | Final Game: 2009-07-12
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'8" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: Anthony Christopher Clark
Biography
Tony Clark was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1995 to 2009. Born in 1972, Clark played a total of 1,559 games, establishing himself as a reliable power hitter during a time when the game was witnessing a surge in offensive production. Over the course of his career, he recorded 1,188 hits, 251 home runs, and 824 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .262. Known for his strong presence at the plate, Clark also showcased versatility, contributing as a first baseman and designated hitter for various teams.
Clark's accomplishments included a selection to the All-Star Game, highlighting his status among his peers during the peak of his career. He played in an era marked by significant offensive milestones, notably the late 1990s and early 2000s, which were characterized by the so-called "steroid era." Despite not being at the center of the controversy that surrounded that time, Clark's contributions to the game were significant, particularly in his ability to drive in runs and provide power in the lineup. After retiring, he transitioned into a role as a player representative, continuing to influence the game off the field.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1559 | 4532 | 629 | 1188 | 233 | 11 | 251 | 824 | 6 | 527 | 1209 | 0.262 | 0.339 | 0.485 | 0.824 | 7713.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | DET | AL | 27 | 101 | 10 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 30 | 0.238 | -170.1 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | 100 | 376 | 56 | 94 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 72 | 0 | 29 | 127 | 0.250 | 159.9 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | 159 | 580 | 105 | 160 | 28 | 3 | 32 | 117 | 1 | 93 | 144 | 0.276 | 2131.1 |
| 1998 | DET | AL | 157 | 602 | 84 | 175 | 37 | 0 | 34 | 103 | 3 | 63 | 128 | 0.291 | 2063.2 |
| 1999 | DET | AL | 143 | 536 | 74 | 150 | 29 | 0 | 31 | 99 | 2 | 64 | 133 | 0.280 | 1365.0 |
| 2000 | DET | AL | 60 | 208 | 32 | 57 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 37 | 0 | 24 | 51 | 0.274 | 465.2 |
| 2001 | DET | AL | 126 | 428 | 67 | 123 | 29 | 3 | 16 | 75 | 0 | 62 | 108 | 0.287 | 1185.9 |
| 2002 | BOS | AL | 90 | 275 | 25 | 57 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 21 | 57 | 0.207 | -1359.0 |
| 2003 | NYN | NL | 125 | 254 | 29 | 59 | 13 | 0 | 16 | 43 | 0 | 24 | 73 | 0.232 | 59.6 |
| 2004 | NYY | AL | 106 | 253 | 37 | 56 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 49 | 0 | 26 | 92 | 0.221 | -111.1 |
| 2005 | AZ | NL | 130 | 349 | 47 | 106 | 22 | 2 | 30 | 87 | 0 | 37 | 88 | 0.304 | 2260.9 |
| 2006 | AZ | NL | 79 | 132 | 13 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 40 | 0.197 | -413.0 |
| 2007 | AZ | NL | 113 | 221 | 31 | 55 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 51 | 0 | 21 | 59 | 0.249 | 289.1 |
| 2008 | AZ | NL | 38 | 63 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 23 | 0.206 | -87.1 |
| 2008 | SDP | NL | 70 | 88 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 32 | 0.239 | -87.1 |
| 2009 | AZ | NL | 36 | 66 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 24 | 0.182 | -62.2 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 37 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0.135 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | NLDS1 | ARI | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 2007 | NLCS | ARI | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.222 |
| 2004 | ALCS | NYA | 5 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0.143 |
| 2004 | ALDS2 | NYA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1211 | 1022 | 9350 | 709 | 75 | 927 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | DET | 1B | 27 | 27 | 252 | 18 | 4 | 25 |
| 1996 | DET | 1B | 86 | 86 | 766 | 54 | 6 | 82 |
| 1997 | DET | 1B | 158 | 157 | 1423 | 100 | 10 | 131 |
| 1998 | DET | 1B | 142 | 142 | 1265 | 102 | 13 | 134 |
| 1999 | DET | 1B | 132 | 130 | 1126 | 85 | 10 | 111 |
| 2000 | DET | 1B | 58 | 58 | 488 | 45 | 4 | 49 |
| 2001 | DET | 1B | 78 | 75 | 647 | 48 | 3 | 69 |
| 2002 | BOS | 1B | 85 | 70 | 653 | 58 | 6 | 54 |
| 2003 | NYN | 1B | 80 | 50 | 465 | 25 | 4 | 42 |
| 2003 | NYN | OF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | NYA | 1B | 99 | 64 | 603 | 49 | 4 | 64 |
| 2005 | ARI | 1B | 83 | 70 | 663 | 44 | 2 | 59 |
| 2006 | ARI | 1B | 53 | 23 | 274 | 21 | 2 | 27 |
| 2007 | ARI | 1B | 83 | 43 | 432 | 32 | 2 | 50 |
| 2008 | ARI | 1B | 25 | 12 | 148 | 14 | 2 | 15 |
| 2008 | SDN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2009 | ARI | 1B | 21 | 14 | 128 | 13 | 3 | 11 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1211 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 101 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Player of the Week | Week of 2000-06-24 |
| 1997 | Player of the Week | Week of 1997-04-19 |
| 1996 | Player of the Week | Week of 1996-09-28 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | ARI | NL | $800,000 |
| 2008 | SDN | NL | $900,000 |
| 2007 | ARI | NL | $1,034,000 |
| 2006 | ARI | NL | $1,034,000 |
| 2005 | ARI | NL | $750,000 |
| 2004 | NYA | AL | $750,000 |
| 2002 | BOS | AL | $5,000,000 |
| 2001 | DET | AL | $4,462,500 |
| 2000 | DET | AL | $4,062,500 |
| 1999 | DET | AL | $2,362,500 |
| 1998 | DET | AL | $762,500 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | $260,000 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $22,287,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 13.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1996 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 3rd | 30.0 | 140 | 0 |