Ron Clark – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ron Clark’s baseball career wrapped up quietly in September 1975 when he struck out against the New York Mets. Still, his nine-year run through the majors really shows what a tough, determined player he was—someone who fits right into the classic professional baseball journeyman era.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1943, Clark grew up as a multi-sport athlete. He overcame some pretty serious injuries and moved between five different teams during his MLB career.

Clark stepped away from playing in 1975 after 230 major league games and a .189 batting average. But honestly, his baseball journey didn’t end there.

He played second base, shortstop, and third base—almost wherever the team needed him. Clark spent nearly a decade in the majors with the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Pilots, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

His stats may not jump off the page, but Clark brought real value with his defensive skills, his grit, and his willingness to fill whatever role his team asked.

Let’s dig into Clark’s path from Texas high school standout to major league utility player. We’ll check out his early days in the minors, his big break with Minnesota, and those nomadic years that followed.

Clark also managed to shift into coaching and scouting after hanging up his cleats. He spent nearly 50 years in pro baseball before finally retiring in 2014.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Ronald Bruce Clark got his start in Fort Worth, Texas, born on January 14, 1943. His athletic talents showed up early, thanks to his family’s involvement in youth baseball.

He stood out as a multi-sport athlete at Brewer High School. After graduation, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1961.

Family Background and Hometown

Ronald Bruce Clark was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 14, 1943. He grew up as one of three sons to Marvin Randolph Clark and Marjorie Geneva Clark, who went by her middle name.

His dad worked as an aircraft machinist for General Dynamics. Marvin Clark played a big role in youth baseball around Fort Worth, giving Ron a head start in organized baseball.

Baseball just seemed to run in the Clark family. Ron’s brother Charles pitched well enough as an amateur to get a contract offer from the Cleveland Indians, but he turned it down.

Ron picked up the game at six years old, guided by his dad. “My dad started me at 6 years old,” Clark once said. “It seems I’ve always had a bat in one hand and a baseball in the other.”

High School Years at Brewer High

Clark went to C.F. Brewer High School in White Settlement, Texas. There, he played four sports and made a name for himself.

He played both quarterback and halfback on the football team, and he took on the role of guard for the basketball team.

He even ran the 440-yard relay in track and field. Still, baseball was always his main focus.

On the baseball field, Clark picked up all-district honors as a sophomore at shortstop. As a junior, he moved to catcher and kept up his strong play.

His senior year, he showed off his versatility by splitting time at second base, shortstop, third base, and catching. That kind of flexibility would become a big part of his pro career.

Clark had to deal with some adversity in high school, too. He suffered a knee injury playing football in 1958, which required two surgeries—a sign of the toughness he’d bring to his career later on.

Signing with the Philadelphia Phillies

After finishing at Brewer High School in spring 1961, Clark signed his first pro contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. That deal kicked off what would turn into almost 50 years in professional baseball.

At 18, Clark started out with the Bakersfield Bears in the Class C California League. Adjusting to pro ball wasn’t easy—he hit just .202 in 39 games.

Even with the low batting average, Clark showed patience at the plate, managing a .359 on-base percentage. He split time between second base and third base, just like he had in high school.

After that first season, a series of transactions landed Clark with the Minnesota Twins organization. That move set up his major league debut with Minnesota in 1966.

MLB Debut and Minnesota Twins Career

Ron Clark made it to the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 1966 at age 23. He spent four seasons with the Twins organization, mainly as a defensive specialist at third base, but he also played shortstop and second base.

Major League Debut in 1966

Clark made his MLB debut on September 11, 1966, against the Baltimore Orioles. He came in as a pinch-runner for Harmon Killebrew after Killebrew singled in the eighth inning.

The debut didn’t last long. Clark got thrown out at home plate to end the inning, but the Twins won 11-6.

He played in just five games that season. Clark picked up his first major league hit in his last at-bat of 1966, singling off Detroit Tigers pitcher George Korince after replacing Killebrew at third.

That hit came right at the end of the season—a small but memorable milestone. Clark had spent most of 1966 with the Denver Bears in Triple-A, so the late call-up gave him valuable experience before he competed for a full-time spot in 1967.

Playing Role and Defensive Position

The Twins valued Clark mostly for his defense at third base. The team really wanted strong defense at the hot corner, and Clark had already won a minor-league Gold Glove at Denver in 1966.

Third base became his main spot, but he filled in at shortstop and second base whenever needed. That versatility made him a valuable utility player during his Minnesota years.

In 1967, Clark got his biggest shot when regular third baseman Rich Rollins got hurt. Clark started 15 games over three weeks, driving in 11 runs but hitting just .175.

The 1968 season was his most active with Minnesota. He started on Opening Day at third base and played in 104 games—both career highs. He started 54 games at third that year.

Clark’s role shrank in 1969. He played just five games in April before heading back to the minors.

Notable Highlights and Achievements

Clark’s best numbers came in 1968, when he set career highs in games played and offensive stats. His 104 appearances that year were his biggest contribution to the Twins.

He got plenty of recognition for his defense in the minors. That Gold Glove at Denver in 1966 showed off the fielding skills the Twins liked so much.

Clark showed real toughness throughout his career, fighting through knee surgeries and elbow problems. In 1964, he even survived a scary moment when a line drive hit him in the chest during practice, causing blood to come from his nose, ears, and mouth.

His Texas roots came through in his personality. Clark wore cowboy boots and Stetsons, spoke with a drawl, and had experience as a rodeo rider and Golden Gloves boxer—he won 104 out of 111 fights.

The Twins sold Clark to the Seattle Pilots in July 1969, ending his four years with Minnesota.

Journeyman Years: Teams and Performance

Clark’s career took him through several organizations from 1969 to 1975. He bounced between the majors and the minors, playing for the Seattle Pilots, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Philadelphia Phillies, though he didn’t get much playing time with any of them.

Stints with Seattle Pilots and Oakland Athletics

After just five games for the Twins in April 1969, Clark went to the minors and then got sold to the expansion Seattle Pilots in mid-July. He played in 57 games for the Pilots during their only season before they moved to Milwaukee.

Clark’s time in Seattle really showed his toughness. Jim Bouton called him a “tough, gutty ballplayer” in Ball Four after Clark collided with Boston’s George Scott and needed 13 stitches in his lip. Bouton wrote that Clark “has a baby face, two tattoos on his arm, smokes big cigars, and when he has thirteen stitches in his lip he drinks beer out of the side of his mouth.”

In January 1970, before the Pilots even knew where they’d relocate, Clark and Don Mincher got traded to the Oakland Athletics for four players. Clark spent most of 1970 and 1971 with the A’s Triple-A team, the Iowa Oaks.

He finally got some real MLB playing time with Oakland in 1972. Clark became one of 12 players the World Series champs used at second base that year, appearing in 11 games at the position.

Time with Milwaukee Brewers

Clark’s stint with the Milwaukee Brewers was short but added another chapter to his journeyman career. In mid-June 1972, the A’s traded him to Milwaukee for utility player Bill Voss.

He only stuck with the Brewers for about a month. The team quickly traded him to the California Angels before the end of summer.

The Brewers became Clark’s fourth major league team in less than four years. All this moving around really shows how tough it was for utility players to find a steady spot in the majors back then.

Final MLB Games with the Philadelphia Phillies

By 1974, Clark’s major league days seemed just about done, and he was short of qualifying for a full player’s pension. Phillies scout Hugh Alexander stepped in and arranged for Clark to spend enough time with Philadelphia to qualify for his pension.

Clark played nearly 250 games for the Phillies’ Toledo farm team in 1974 and 1975. The organization called him up for the end of the 1975 season, giving him one last shot in the majors.

His final major league moment came against the New York Mets in the third-to-last game of the season. Clark struck out in what would be his last plate appearance, finishing a career that covered parts of seven seasons.

The Phillies showed real loyalty to Clark. They made sure he got the pension benefits he’d earned after nearly a decade in pro ball.

Statistical Performance and Legacy

Ron Clark’s nine-season major league career didn’t produce flashy offensive numbers, but he brought defensive reliability across multiple infield positions. His .189 career batting average and 43 RBIs tell the story of a utility player who had to fight for every bit of playing time.

Batting, WAR, and Runs Scored

Clark finished with a .189 batting average over 230 major league games from 1966 to 1975. He collected 100 hits and scored 40 runs in his career.

His best offensive season came in 1968 with Minnesota, when he played in 104 games and set career highs in most stats. Clark consistently drew walks, posting a .359 on-base percentage in his rookie season with Bakersfield back in 1961.

He never played more than 104 games in a single year. As a utility player, Clark’s appearances were sporadic rather than steady.

Home Runs and RBI Totals

Clark hit five home runs in his big league career and drove in 43 runs. He wasn’t a power hitter—most of his offensive production came in 1968 with the Twins, when he got his most regular playing time.

In the minors, Clark showed more pop. He shared the Pacific Coast League RBI title in 1966 with 94 RBIs for Denver, which helped earn his call-up to Minnesota late that year.

His RBI totals stayed modest because he didn’t get many chances. Clark often came into games as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner instead of getting at-bats in big situations.

Fielding and Versatility

Clark stuck around in professional baseball for almost twenty years because of his defensive skills. He played third base, second base, and shortstop in the majors. Teams leaned on his versatility, seeing him as a utility guy who could jump in wherever they needed.

Minnesota cared a lot about defense at third base in 1967, so Clark got his shot thanks to his glove. Back in 1966, he won a minor-league Gold Glove playing for Denver. Teammates and coaches often talked about how reliable he was on defense.

Clark managed to stretch his career longer than his offensive numbers would suggest, mostly because he could cover so many infield spots. Teams liked having his steady fielding and veteran presence on the bench, even if his bat wasn’t a big threat.

Retirement in 1975 and Transition to Coaching

Ron Clark wrapped up his playing days with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975, making his last appearance against the New York Mets that September. Not wasting any time, he moved right into coaching and player development with the Phillies, starting a new phase that would last for decades.

Final Season and Decision to Retire

Clark’s 1975 season with the Phillies was his last in the majors. He only got into one game that year, striking out against the Mets in the third-to-last game of the season.

The Phillies brought Clark back mostly so he could qualify for his full player’s pension. Scout Hugh Alexander made sure Clark spent enough time with the team to meet the requirements. Before that, Clark played nearly 250 games for the Phillies’ Toledo farm team in 1974 and 1975 before they called him up.

At 32, Clark’s playing career ended after seven seasons in the big leagues. He played for five different teams and finished with a .189 batting average and five home runs. His bat never really stood out, but people always remembered him for his glove and his ability to move around the infield.

Becoming a Minor League Manager

After he stopped playing, Clark stayed with the Phillies in the late 1970s. He worked as an assistant on the player-development staff and managed in the minors at the same time.

He managed at Triple-A Oklahoma City and helped shape future stars there. Under his watch, prospects like Ryne Sandberg, George Bell, Julio Franco, and Mark Davis sharpened their skills. These guys went on to shine elsewhere, which had to be at least a little frustrating for Clark.

Clark’s work didn’t stop with the Phillies. He managed winter-ball teams in the Caribbean and took on roles in the Cubs’ minor-league system. His reputation as a player developer started to spread through baseball.

Post-Playing Involvement in Baseball

After 1975, Ron Clark moved smoothly from player to instructor and manager. His long minor league managing career took him through several organizations, and he played a part in developing future MLB stars.

Coaching Career Milestones

Clark kicked off his post-playing career with the Phillies right after retiring. He started as an assistant to the player-development staff in the late ’70s, then moved into managing in the minors.

He managed at Triple-A Oklahoma City and also led winter-ball teams in the Caribbean, picking up coaching experience overseas.

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Clark made it back to the majors as a coach. He worked with three MLB teams during that stretch:

• Chicago White Sox (late 1980s)
• Seattle Mariners (early 1990s)
• Cleveland Indians (early 1990s)

Later, Clark joined the Kansas City Royals organization for over a decade. He wore a lot of hats, including major-league advance scout and roving minor-league infield instructor.

Contributions to Team Development

Clark made a real difference in player development during his time managing in the minors. He helped guide several future MLB stars who went on to thrive with other teams.

Some of the biggest names Clark mentored included Ryne Sandberg, George Bell, Julio Franco, and Mark Davis. All four built strong major league careers, though not with the teams where Clark coached them.

His background as an infielder made him especially valuable as a roving minor-league infield instructor. Clark’s hands-on style helped young players pick up defensive skills and the basics of the game.

While working in the Cubs’ minor-league system, Clark kept building talent. His experience covering multiple infield positions gave him a unique perspective on defense and technique.

Recognition in Baseball Circles

People across baseball circles respected Clark for his dedication to developing players. He spent nearly 50 years working in professional baseball, which really showed how much he cared about the game even after his playing days ended.

Folks in the baseball community called Clark a “lifer” because he always found a way to stay involved. His toughness and work ethic, the same traits that defined him as a player, shaped how he coached and mentored others.

Clark built a huge network inside baseball organizations, which kept him steadily employed. Teams trusted his instincts with young players and leaned on his experience in player development.

By 2014, Clark decided to retire and moved to Florida. The organizations where he worked as a minor league manager and instructor still feel the impact of his dedication to developing talent.