WHY I THINK WILL CLARK SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK WILL CLARK SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien

Will Clark was one of the most popular players of his time. It might have been that he was a bit cocky at times, or that he had one of the most fluid swings that the game has ever seen, or that he could hit for power while still retaining a high batting average. Clark was one of the best hitters of his time and he let everybody know about it. He had a lifetime batting average of .303, batted over .325 three times, had four seasons with over 100 RBI’s, and won two Silver Slugger awards. Will Clark started his career with the Giants in 1986, batting .287 in 111 games. He hit a long home run off of Nolan Ryan on the first pitch that he ever saw in the Major Leagues. Clark batted .308 with 35 home runs in 1987 and .282 in 1988, when he led the NL in games, plate appearances, RBI’s, and walks. He had his finest season in the Majors in 1989, when he batted .333 with 23 home runs and finished second in the NL MVP polls to teammate Kevin Mitchell, who hit 47 home runs on the year. After four more quality seasons with the Giants, Clark spent five seasons with the Rangers. He batted a composite .308 in Texas but wasn’t the power hitter that he had been in San Francisco. Clark batted .303 in 77 games for the Orioles in 1999 and a combined .319 between the Orioles and  Cardinals in 2000 before retiring. He set the MLB record for the highest slugging percentage by a regular player during his final season (.546). Will Clark was a fantastic hitter, a tough competitor, and a sure glove at first base. Like many other people, I believe that he belongs in Cooperstown.  

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,976 season high: 162 in 1988 led NL: 162 in 1988  

At Bats career: 7,173 season high: 600 in 1990 

Hits career: 2,176 season high: 196 in 1989 

Doubles career: 440 season high: 41 in 1998 

Triples career: 47 season high: 9 in 1989 

Home Runs career: 284 season high: 35 in 1987  

Runs career: 1,186 season high: 104 in 1989 led NL:  104 in 1989  

Runs Batted In career: 1,205 season high: 116 in 1991 led NL: 109 in 1988 

Stolen Bases career: 67 season high: 12 in 1992 

Walks career: 937 season high: 100 in 1988 led NL: 100 in 1988  

Strikeouts career: 1,190 season high: 129 in 1988 

Batting Average career: .303 season high: .333 in 1989 

On Base Percentage career: .384 season high: .431 in 1994 

Slugging Percentage career: .497 season high: .580 in 1987 led NL: .536 in 1991  

Total Bases career: 3,562 season high: 321 in 1989 led NL: 303 in 1991 

Sacrifice Hits career: 13 season high: 9 in 1986 

Fielding Percentage career: .992 season high: .997 in 1991 led NL 1B: .997 in 1991  

Double Plays career: 1,571 season high: 130 in 1987 and 1992 led NL 1B: 130 in 1987 and 1992, 126 in 1988, 118 in 1990, 115 in 1991  

Putouts career: 16,695 season high: 1,492 in 1988 led NL 1B: 1,492 in 1988, 1,445 in 1989, 1,456 in 1990 led AL 1B: 968 in 1994  

Assists career: 1,294 season high: 119 in 1990 

DID YOU KNOW?

-nicknamed “Will the Thrill” and “The Natural” 

-finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting in 1986 

-finished fourth in the NL MVP voting in 1991, fifth in both 1987 and 1988, and 15th in the AL MVP voting in 1994 

-batted .385 with a .615 slugging percentage in six all-star games

-won a Gold Glove award in 1991

-set LCS records for the highest batting average (.650) and slugging percentage (1.200), and for the most hits (13), runs scored (eight), extra-base hits (six) and total bases (24) and was named the Series MVP 

-holds the highest career LCS batting average (.468) of any player with a minimum of 50 at bats 

-his grand slam off of Greg Maddux in Game 1 the 1989 NLCS is what finally forced pitchers to talk into their gloves while discussing their pitches 

-led the NL in intentional walks in 1988 (27) and in times on base in 1988 (266) and 1989 (275)  

-led NL first basemen in games (158) in 1988 

-won four career Player of the Month awards and eight Player of the Week awards 

-had 1,000 or more putouts in nine separate seasons and had over 100 assists in a season six times 

-holds the longest San Francisco Giants consecutive games played streak at 320, starting in 1987 and ending in 1989 

-also played 33 games as a DH, 68 as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner 

-went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI’s in his final MLB game 

-ranks 32nd in career sacrifice flies (101) and 46th in intentional walks (155) 

-among MLB first basemen, ranks 31st in career games, 18th in double plays, 30th in putouts,  and 24th in assists 

-his uniform number 22 will be retired by the Giants during the 2020 season