Fred Clarke
Outfielder · Career Stats, Hall of Fame Bio & Records (1894-1915)
Fred Clarke was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1894 to 1915 for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates, a span of 22 seasons. In 2,246 career games, he hit .312 with 2,678 hits, 67 home runs, and 1,015 RBI. Fred Clarke was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 34,764.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- L / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 165 lb
- Died
- 8/14/1960 in Winfield, KS, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1894-06-30
- Last Game
- 1915-09-23
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 1945 (BBWAA)
Full name: Fred Clifford Clarke
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,246 | 8,584 | 1,622 | 2,678 | 361 | 220 | 67 | 1,015 | 509 | 875 | 511 | .312 | .386 | .429 | .814 | 34,764 |
Career AVG .312 vs. league average .262 across their career seasons — +19.1% above league average.
Career OBP .386 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — +18.9% above league average.
Career SLG .429 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — +24.6% above league average.
Career OPS .814 vs. league average .668 across their career seasons — +21.8% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | LS3 | NL | 76 | 314 | 55 | 86 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 26 | 26 | 27 | .274 | .309 (-11%) | .379 (-11%) | .435 (-3%) | .814 (-7%) | -439.3 |
| 1895 | LS3 | NL | 132 | 550 | 96 | 191 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 82 | 40 | 34 | 24 | .347 | .296 (+17%) | .361 (+9%) | .399 (+6%) | .761 (+8%) | 1000.2 |
| 1896 | LS3 | NL | 131 | 517 | 96 | 168 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 79 | 34 | 43 | 34 | .325 | .290 (+12%) | .354 (+11%) | .387 (+23%) | .741 (+17%) | 1819.7 |
| 1897 | LS3 | NL | 130 | 526 | 122 | 205 | 30 | 13 | 6 | 67 | 59 | 45 | 26 | .390 | .291 (+34%) | .354 (+30%) | .387 (+37%) | .741 (+34%) | 3935.9 |
| 1898 | LS3 | NL | 149 | 599 | 116 | 184 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 47 | 40 | 48 | 21 | .307 | .270 (+14%) | .333 (+12%) | .347 (+15%) | .680 (+14%) | 1653.1 |
| 1899 | LS3 | NL | 149 | 606 | 122 | 206 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 70 | 49 | 49 | 18 | .340 | .282 (+20%) | .343 (+18%) | .366 (+18%) | .710 (+18%) | 2348.2 |
| 1900 | PIT | NL | 106 | 399 | 84 | 110 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 32 | 21 | 51 | 20 | .276 | .279 (-1%) | .338 (+9%) | .366 (+8%) | .705 (+8%) | 720.9 |
| 1901 | PIT | NL | 129 | 527 | 118 | 171 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 60 | 23 | 51 | 44 | .324 | .271 (+19%) | .326 (+21%) | .359 (+28%) | .686 (+25%) | 2607.4 |
| 1902 | PIT | NL | 113 | 459 | 103 | 145 | 27 | 14 | 2 | 53 | 29 | 51 | 38 | .316 | .266 (+18%) | .321 (+25%) | .343 (+31%) | .665 (+28%) | 2488.6 |
| 1903 | PIT | NL | 104 | 427 | 88 | 150 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 70 | 21 | 41 | 27 | .351 | .261 (+34%) | .316 (+31%) | .345 (+54%) | .662 (+43%) | 3247.9 |
| 1904 | PIT | NL | 72 | 278 | 51 | 85 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 22 | 25 | .306 | .246 (+24%) | .300 (+22%) | .321 (+28%) | .622 (+25%) | 1115.7 |
| 1905 | PIT | NL | 141 | 525 | 95 | 157 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 51 | 24 | 55 | 41 | .299 | .248 (+21%) | .307 (+20%) | .322 (+25%) | .629 (+22%) | 2174.4 |
| 1906 | PIT | NL | 118 | 417 | 69 | 129 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 39 | 18 | 40 | 25 | .309 | .247 (+25%) | .307 (+21%) | .315 (+31%) | .622 (+26%) | 1855.5 |
| 1907 | PIT | NL | 148 | 501 | 97 | 145 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 59 | 37 | 68 | 32 | .289 | .245 (+18%) | .304 (+26%) | .308 (+26%) | .613 (+26%) | 2584.2 |
| 1908 | PIT | NL | 151 | 551 | 83 | 146 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 53 | 24 | 65 | 23 | .265 | .240 (+10%) | .298 (+17%) | .306 (+18%) | .605 (+18%) | 1861.5 |
| 1909 | PIT | NL | 152 | 550 | 97 | 158 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 68 | 31 | 80 | 36 | .287 | .244 (+18%) | .306 (+25%) | .312 (+19%) | .618 (+22%) | 2560.2 |
| 1910 | PIT | NL | 123 | 429 | 57 | 113 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 63 | 12 | 53 | 23 | .263 | .249 (+5%) | .317 (+10%) | .326 (+14%) | .644 (+12%) | 998.3 |
| 1911 | PIT | NL | 110 | 392 | 73 | 127 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 10 | 53 | 27 | .324 | .266 (+22%) | .336 (+21%) | .356 (+38%) | .693 (+30%) | 2231.2 |
| 1913 | PIT | NL | 9 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .077 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1914 | PIT | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1915 | PIT | NL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 21 seasons | 2,246 | 8,584 | 1,622 | 2,678 | 361 | 220 | 67 | 1,015 | 509 | 875 | 511 | .312 | — | — | — | — | 34,764 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1778 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 891 | 3251 | 637 | 995 | 24 | 363 | .306 |
| Away | 887 | 3430 | 616 | 1033 | 17 | 348 | .301 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915-09-23 | PIT | BSN | W | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-10 | PIT | PHI | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1914-07-04 | PIT | CHC | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-07-17 | PIT | BRO | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-29 | PIT | STL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-16 | PIT | BSN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-14 | PIT | NY1 | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-13 | PIT | NY1 | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-12 | PIT | NY1 | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1913-06-10 | PIT | BRO | W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 2193 | 878 | 4795 | 254 | 256 | 42 |
| SS | 6 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | LS3 | OF | 76 | 0 | 163 | 15 | 23 | 2 |
| 1895 | LS3 | OF | 132 | 0 | 344 | 20 | 49 | 4 |
| 1896 | LS3 | OF | 131 | 0 | 277 | 18 | 30 | 2 |
| 1897 | LS3 | OF | 129 | 0 | 285 | 18 | 24 | 0 |
| 1898 | LS3 | OF | 149 | 0 | 344 | 19 | 23 | 3 |
| 1899 | LS3 | OF | 145 | 0 | 328 | 20 | 13 | 2 |
| 1899 | LS3 | SS | 3 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| 1900 | PIT | OF | 104 | 0 | 263 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 1901 | PIT | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1901 | PIT | OF | 127 | 0 | 282 | 13 | 9 | 0 |
| 1901 | PIT | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1902 | PIT | OF | 113 | 0 | 215 | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| 1903 | PIT | OF | 101 | 0 | 168 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| 1903 | PIT | SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1904 | PIT | OF | 70 | 70 | 135 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1905 | PIT | OF | 137 | 136 | 270 | 16 | 7 | 4 |
| 1906 | PIT | OF | 110 | 109 | 209 | 15 | 6 | 3 |
| 1907 | PIT | OF | 144 | 143 | 298 | 15 | 4 | 2 |
| 1908 | PIT | OF | 151 | 151 | 350 | 15 | 10 | 2 |
| 1909 | PIT | OF | 152 | 152 | 362 | 17 | 5 | 2 |
| 1910 | PIT | OF | 118 | 117 | 284 | 10 | 10 | 4 |
| 1911 | PIT | OF | 101 | 0 | 216 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 1913 | PIT | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1915 | PIT | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 1 |
| Shortstop | 6 |
| Left Field | 2187 |
| Center Field | 4 |
| Right Field | 6 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | LF |
| 1909 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | LF |
| 1908 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | LF |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Fred Clarke (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Fred Clarke
Fred Clarke: the record in brief
Fred Clarke's major league career runs from a debut on June 30, 1894 to a final game on September 23, 1915. The team column moves through the Louisville Colonels (1894 through 1899) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1900 through 1915). Clarke is listed as an outfielder at 165 pounds on a 5-foot-10 frame. Clarke batted left-handed and threw right-handed, per the bio block. Clarke was born on October 3, 1872, in Winterset, IA, USA. Clarke died on August 14, 1960, in Winfield, KS, USA. The bio lists the given name Fred Clifford.
Across 2,246 games at the plate, Clarke's career line reads 2,678 hits in 8,584 at bats for a .312 average, plus 67 homers, 1,015 RBI, and 509 stolen bases. Clarke got on base at a .386 rate and slugged .429 (.814 OPS). Over the seasons Clarke played, league hitters batted .262; the .312 career figure is 19.1% above that. 1899 produced Clarke's most hits, 206 of them for the Louisville Colonels.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fred Clarke
- What years did Fred Clarke play?
- Fred Clarke played in Major League Baseball from 1894 to 1915.
- Was Fred Clarke a pitcher?
- No. Fred Clarke was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Fred Clarke hit?
- Fred Clarke hit 67 career home runs with 2,678 hits.
- Is Fred Clarke in the Hall of Fame?
- Yes. Fred Clarke was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
- What teams did Fred Clarke play for?
- Fred Clarke played for 2 teams: the Louisville Colonels (1894–1899) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1900–1911, 1913–1915).
- What were Fred Clarke's career stats?
- In 2,246 games, Fred Clarke had 2,678 hits, 67 home runs, 1,015 RBI, 1,622 runs, and 509 stolen bases, with a .312 batting average.
- What position did Fred Clarke play?
- Fred Clarke played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Fred Clarke and how much did he weigh?
- Fred Clarke was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 165 pounds.
- How many home runs did Fred Clarke hit each season?
- Fred Clarke's home runs by season: 7 in 1894, 4 in 1895, 9 in 1896, 6 in 1897, 3 in 1898, 5 in 1899, 3 in 1900, 6 in 1901, 2 in 1902, 5 in 1903, 0 in 1904, 2 in 1905, 1 in 1906, 2 in 1907, 2 in 1908, 3 in 1909, 2 in 1910, 5 in 1911, 0 in 1913, 0 in 1914, and 0 in 1915. His most in one season was 9, in 1896.
- What was Fred Clarke's career batting average?
- Fred Clarke batted .312 over his career, with 2,678 hits in 8,584 at bats.
- How many RBI did Fred Clarke have?
- Fred Clarke drove in 1,015 runs in his career.