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41. Will Clark

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  • Published in Baseball
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  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: March 13, 1964 in New Orleans, LA USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'2"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: April 08, 1986
  • Final Game: October 01, 2000
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
14346237243525682410134 0.303
 

Will Clark is a justifiable member of the Mississippi Sports and College Baseball Hall of Fame, but it looks like the big one in Cooperstown will elude him as he failed to get past his first year of eligibility.  A look at his career makes you wonder why he couldn’t get past that elusive first ballot.

Nicknamed “The Thrill”, Will Clark became an instant favorite as he homered on his first at-bat against the legendary Nolan Ryan.  Clark would become a major star in the Bay Area, exciting fans with his unequaled competitiveness and solid offensive play.  He was ranked among his peers as the top clutch performer in the game, as evidenced by his 1989 NLCS MVP.  The six-Time All-Star finished his career with a Batting Average over .300 and solid power numbers.  What hurt Will Clark was that the inflated power numbers that came after him (especially from other first basemen) made what he accomplished look less special.  It is very possible that “The Thrill” could pop up in a Veterans’ Committee discussion in the future.

Should Will Clark be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 71.8%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 4.7%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 5.6%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Sunday, 01 January 2006
  • Position: First Base
  • Games Played: 1976
  • Notable Statistics: 1,186 Runs Scored
    2,176 Hits
    440 Doubles
    47 Triples
    284 Home Runs
    1,205 Runs Batted In
    67 Stolen Bases
    .303/.384/.497 Slash Line
    56.5 bWAR

    31 Playoff Games
    20 Runs Scored
    39 Hits
    8 Doubles
    1 Triple
    5 Home Runs
    16 Runs Batted In
    1 Stolen Base
    .333/.409/.547 Slash Line
  • Played For: Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Rings (None)
    All-Star (6) (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 & 1994)
    Gold Glove (1991) (NL) (1991)
    Silver Slugger (2) (NL) (1989 & 1991)
    NLCS MVP (1989)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1) (NL) (1989)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1) (NL) (1988)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1) (NL) (1991)
    Most Plate Appearances (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Runs Scored (1) (NL) (1989)
    Most Total Bases (1) (NL) (1991)
    Most Runs Batted In (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Walks (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Intentional Walks (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Situational Wins Added (1) (NL) (1989)
    Most Base-Out Wins Added (1) (NL) (1989)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1) (NL) (1989) 
    Highest Championship Probability Added (1) (NL) (1989) 
    Most Putouts (4) (NL) (1988, 1989, 1990 & 1994)
    Most Putouts by a First Baseman (4) (NL) (1988, 1989, 1990 & 1994)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a First Baseman (5) (NL) (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 & 1992)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a First Baseman (1) (NL) (1989)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a First Baseman (3) (NL) (1988, 1989 & 1990)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a First Baseman (1) (NL) (1991)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten MVP finishes:
    (NL: 1987, 5th), (NL: 1988, 5th), (NL: 1989, 2nd) & (NL: 1991, 4th)
    Finished 5th in NL Rookie of the Year Voting in 1986
    3 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (On Base Percentage)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Hits)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Doubles
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Singles)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Power-Speed #)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Situational Wins Added)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Base-Out Wins Added)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (rOBA)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Rbat+)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 19. Double Plays Turned by a First Baseman: 1,571
    27. Assists by a First Baseman: 1,294
    32. Putouts: 16,695
    32. Putouts by a First Baseman: 16,695
    33. Sacrifice Flies: 101
    46. Intentional Walks: 155
    59. Win Probability Added: 46.0
    67. Situational Wins Added: 42.6
    68. Base-Out Wins Added: 44.9
    83. Championship Win Probability Added: 42.3
    96. Range Factor per Game by a First Baseman: 9.52
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 2006:  4.4

    Veterans:
    2017: ()
    2019: ()
  • Should be Inducted As A: San Francisco Giant

Should Will Clark be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 71.8%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 4.7%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 5.6%
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