Jack Clark Marquee

b. November 10, 1955 · San Francisco Giants 1975–1984, St. Louis Cardinals 1985–1987, New York Yankees 1988, San Diego Padres 1989–1990, Boston Red Sox 1991–1992

He drew 1,262 walks against 1,826 hits and led the National League in them three times, which in the 1980s was regarded as a curiosity rather than a skill. Eighteen seasons gave him 340 home runs, 1,180 runs batted in and a .267 average, with four All-Star selections and two Silver Sluggers.

His 1987 season for St. Louis is the one to look at: 35 home runs and 106 runs batted in from 131 games, with 136 walks. The club reached the World Series and he missed it injured. He was called Jack the Ripper and pitchers stopped throwing to him, which is what the walk totals record.

He played for five clubs and left most of them badly. The writers gave him seven votes of 473 in 1998 and he came off the ballot after one appearance, which the measures that value walks have since made look like an error.

Honors

Award	Times	Years
All-Star selection	4	1978, 1979, 1985, 1987
Player of the Week	4	1978, 1980, 1982, 1987
Silver Slugger	2	1985, 1987
The Sporting News All-Star	2	1978, 1987
Player of the Month	1	1978

Batting, season by season

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
1975	SFG	8	17	3	4	0	0	0	2	1	2	1	.235
1976	SFG	26	102	14	23	6	2	2	10	8	18	6	.225
1977	SFG	136	413	64	104	17	4	13	51	49	73	12	.252
1978	SFG	156	592	90	181	46	8	25	98	50	72	15	.306
1979	SFG	143	527	84	144	25	2	26	86	63	95	11	.273
1980	SFG	127	437	77	124	20	8	22	82	74	52	2	.284
1981	SFG	99	385	60	103	19	2	17	53	45	45	1	.268
1982	SFG	157	563	90	154	30	3	27	103	90	91	6	.274
1983	SFG	135	492	82	132	25	0	20	66	74	79	5	.268
1984	SFG	57	203	33	65	9	1	11	44	43	29	1	.320
1985	STL	126	442	71	124	26	3	22	87	83	88	1	.281
1986	STL	65	232	34	55	12	2	9	23	45	61	1	.237
1987	STL	131	419	93	120	23	1	35	106	136	139	1	.286
1988	NYY	150	496	81	120	14	0	27	93	113	141	3	.242
1989	SDP	142	455	76	110	19	1	26	94	132	145	6	.242
1990	SDP	115	334	59	89	12	1	25	62	104	91	4	.266
1991	BOS	140	481	75	120	18	1	28	87	96	133	0	.249
1992	BOS	81	257	32	54	11	0	5	33	56	87	1	.210
Career	—	1994	6847	1118	1826	332	39	340	1180	1262	1441	77	.267

On this day & linked events

1955

Born November 10, 1955

New Brighton, PA, USA

1975

Major-league debut: Jack Clark

Jack Clark made a major-league debut on September 12, 1975.

1991

Jack Clark's Three-Home-Run Game, 1991

Jack Clark hit three home runs for the Boston Red Sox against the Oakland Athletics on July 31, 1991.

1992

Final major-league game: Jack Clark

Jack Clark played a final major-league game on August 28, 1992.

Image: Barry Colla, public domain