Bryan Clark (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Bryan Donald Clark is a former left-handed
Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played from to , and again in with the Seattle Mariners
, Toronto Blue Jays
, Cleveland Indians
and Chicago White Sox
. He attended Fresno Community College. He was 6'2", 185 pounds.
Drafted 226th overall by the Pirates in 1974
, Clark proved pretty quickly in the minors that his control was very suspect. For example, in just his second year in the minors, he walked
138 batters in only 131 innings of work. Used mostly as a starter
in the minors, he posted ERA
s as high as 7.11 with a team in a season, and he walked over 100 batters four times. Even in his best season in the minors, one in which he went 14-5 with a 2.64 ERA, he still walked 112 batters in 167 innings of work.
Although his minor league statistics were not too impressive, Clark still managed to make his major league debut on April 11, 1981 at the age of 24 against the California Angels
. Although he was technically a pitcher, he was used in a rather unorthodox way in his debut - the Mariners (who purchased him from the Pirates in ) used him as a pinch runner
.
He spent the rest of his career trying to find his niche. He was used both as a starter and reliever
throughout his career, with his best season being , when he went 5-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 37 games, most of them in relief. This season included his only complete game
shutout
in his career, on September 25, 1982, against the Blue Jays. He gave up six hits
, walked one, and struck out two.
In , he was traded from the Mariners to the Blue Jays for Barry Bonnell
. Perhaps a game on August 19, 1983, against the Cleveland Indians
shows just how poor his control could be at times. In just 2.2 innings of work, he managed to walk seven batters.
In the end, his career never really panned out. He posted a 20-23 record with a 4.15 ERA in 516+ innings of work, walking 261 and striking out
259. He was sixth in the league in wild pitch
es in 1981 with seven, and fourth in the league in wild pitches in 1983 with 10.
He played his final game on May 30, 1990, with the Mariners, who had reacquired him in December .
George Brett
collected his 2000th hit off Clark.
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played from to , and again in with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He attended Fresno Community College. He was 6'2", 185 pounds.
Drafted 226th overall by the Pirates in 1974
1974 Major League Baseball draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...
, Clark proved pretty quickly in the minors that his control was very suspect. For example, in just his second year in the minors, he walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
138 batters in only 131 innings of work. Used mostly as a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in the minors, he posted ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
s as high as 7.11 with a team in a season, and he walked over 100 batters four times. Even in his best season in the minors, one in which he went 14-5 with a 2.64 ERA, he still walked 112 batters in 167 innings of work.
Although his minor league statistics were not too impressive, Clark still managed to make his major league debut on April 11, 1981 at the age of 24 against the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Although he was technically a pitcher, he was used in a rather unorthodox way in his debut - the Mariners (who purchased him from the Pirates in ) used him as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
.
He spent the rest of his career trying to find his niche. He was used both as a starter and reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
throughout his career, with his best season being , when he went 5-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 37 games, most of them in relief. This season included his only complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in his career, on September 25, 1982, against the Blue Jays. He gave up six hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, walked one, and struck out two.
In , he was traded from the Mariners to the Blue Jays for Barry Bonnell
Barry Bonnell
Robert Barry Bonnell , is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball.He was a star athlete at Milford High School near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played both varsity baseball and basketball on championship teams...
. Perhaps a game on August 19, 1983, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
shows just how poor his control could be at times. In just 2.2 innings of work, he managed to walk seven batters.
In the end, his career never really panned out. He posted a 20-23 record with a 4.15 ERA in 516+ innings of work, walking 261 and striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
259. He was sixth in the league in wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es in 1981 with seven, and fourth in the league in wild pitches in 1983 with 10.
He played his final game on May 30, 1990, with the Mariners, who had reacquired him in December .
George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
collected his 2000th hit off Clark.