Rufe Clarke

Born: 4/13/1900 in Estill, SC, USA

Died: 2/8/1983 in Columbia, SC, USA

MLB Debut: 1923-09-03 | Final Game: 1924-05-19

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 203 lbs

Full name: Rufus Rivers Clarke

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Biography

Rufe Clarke was a professional baseball pitcher born in 1900, whose brief Major League career spanned from 1923 until 1924. He made his mark during an era when the game was transitioning from the deadball era into a more offensively driven style of play. Throughout his time in the big leagues, he played for teams that sought reliable arms to navigate the challenges of the mound during a period characterized by evolving hitting techniques and strategies. Clarke finished his career with a record of 1-1 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.97, showcasing his potential as a competent pitcher despite the limited opportunities he had at the highest level. Over the course of his tenure, he struck out 3 batters and did not record any saves, indicating his role in a competitive pitching rotation. While his career may not have been lengthy, Clarke's contributions to the game during the early 1920s reflect the resilience and determination of players striving to make their mark in baseball history.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
1	1	7	0	0	0	0	11.3	9	5	0	11	3	3.97	0

Career ERA 3.97 vs. league average 4.08 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1923	DET	AL	1	1	5	0	0	0	0	6.0	6	3	6	2	4.50	—	0.0
1924	DET	AL	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	5.3	3	2	5	1	3.38	—	0.0

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.0

Career AVG .000 vs. league average .283 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OBP .000 vs. league average .345 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career SLG .000 vs. league average .390 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.000 vs. league average 0.735 across their career seasons — 100.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1923	DET	AL	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1924	DET	AL	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	7	0	3	2	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1923	DET	P	5	0	1	2	0	0
1924	DET	P	2	0	2	0	0	0

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	7

College History

School Name	City	State	Years Attended
Davidson College	Davidson	NC	1916, 1917, 1918, 1919