Howie Clark

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Howie Clark

| image = Howie Clark.jpg

| caption = Clark with the Las Vegas 51s in 2009

| team =

| number =

| position = Utility player / Coach

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|2|13}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 16

| debutyear = 2002

| debutteam = Baltimore Orioles

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = May 18

| finalyear = 2008

| finalteam = Minnesota Twins

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .262

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 3

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 26

| teams =

As player

Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2002}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2006}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2007}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2008}})

As coach

Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2019}})
Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Howard Roddy Clark (born February 13, 1974) is an American professional baseball coach and former utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins, and coached for the Orioles and Chicago White Sox. He is currently the hitting coach for the Memphis Redbirds.

Playing career

Clark was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 27th round (744th overall) of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft.{{Cite web |title=1992 MLB Draft Pick Transactions |url=http://prosportstransactions.com/baseball/DraftTrades/1992-21-30.htm |access-date= |website=Pro Sports Transactions}} He would spend ten years in Baltimore's minor league system before making an appearance in the majors.{{Cite web |last=Washburn |first=Gary |date=July 16, 2002 |title=Baltimore offense overtakes Seattle |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20020716&content_id=83459&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |website=Baltimore Orioles |publisher=MLB.com}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} During this time, Clark played in parts of four seasons with the Rochester Red Wings, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, from {{mlby|1998}} to {{mlby|2002}} and was named the team captain.{{Cite web |title=Howie Clark Minor, Mexican, Independent & Winter Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=clark-002how |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} After his contract was purchased by the Orioles on July 16, 2002,{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2002 |title=Orioles purchase Howie Clark |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20020717&content_id=84195&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127054917/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20020717&content_id=84195&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |archive-date=November 27, 2015 |website=Baltimore Orioles |publisher=MLB.com}} he finally made his major-league debut as a designated hitter batting leadoff that same day in a 6–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards. He was given a standing ovation after his first at bat resulted in a double off Joel Piñeiro. Clark eventually scored the first run of the contest. He played in 14 games with the Orioles in his first major league action, batting .302 with 4 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Howie Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clarkho02.shtml |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He became a free agent after the 2002 season and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 12, 2002.

After two seasons with the Blue Jays, Clark signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 1, 2004. He spent the {{mlby|2005}} season with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates and the Double-A Altoona Curve, batting a combined .394 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 39 games. Clark re-signed with Baltimore before the {{mlby|2006}} season. Clark played most of the year with their Triple-A affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx, but was called up to Baltimore for a brief stretch during the months of June and July. He played in seven games, recording one hit in seven at-bats (.143).

Clark signed with the San Diego Padres on January 10, 2007. He was released at the end of Spring Training on March 31. On May 12, Clark signed a contract to return to the Blue Jays.

On May 30, {{mlby|2007}}, while playing third base for the Blue Jays, Clark let an easy pop fly fall after Alex Rodriguez yelled "Mine" in order to distract the infielders.{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Cathal |date=June 15, 2007 |title=Clark enjoys moment in the bigs |url=https://www.thestar.com/printArticle/225687 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015063609/https://www.thestar.com/printArticle/225687 |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |website=Toronto Star}}{{cite web |last=Lefort |first=David |date=May 31, 2007 |title='Bush league' or brilliant? |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/05/bush_league_or_1.html?p1=MEWell_Pos5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023054025/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2007/05/bush_league_or_1.html?p1=MEWell_Pos5 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |website=The Boston Globe}} Sports telecasts aired this play numerous times in the following days as part of discussions on Rodriguez's poor sportsmanship.

Clark was cited in the 2007 Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball,{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2007 |title=Players mentioned in Mitchell Report |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-mitchellthumbs1213-story.html |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=The Baltimore Sun |agency=Associated Press}} but was later acquitted when it was discovered his GH was bunk because he bought it from a false Mexican source.

Clark was outrighted to Triple-A by the Blue Jays on August 7, 2007.{{Cite web |last=Bastian |first=Jordan |date=August 7, 2007 |title=Notes: Burnett set to return |url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070807&content_id=2135046&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818205304/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070807&content_id=2135046&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Toronto Blue Jays |publisher=MLB.com}} He then signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins on November 21, 2007. He began the {{mlby|2008}} season with the Rochester Red Wings, now the Triple-A affiliate of the Twins. Clark was called up to Minnesota on May 16 to replace the injured Matt Tolbert,{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Phil |date=May 17, 2008 |title=Matt Tolbert latest Minnesota Twin to injure thumb diving head first into base |url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/17/matt-tolbert-latest-minnesota-twin-to-injure-thumb-diving-head-first-into-base/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=St. Paul Pioneer Press |language=en-US}} but was designated for assignment to Rochester on May 31.{{Cite web |last=Ettinger |first=Corey |date=June 2, 2008 |title=Howie Clark DFAed |url=https://www.twinkietown.com/2008/6/2/544156/howie-clark-dfaed |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Twinkie Town |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}} He accepted the assignment, stating that one of his reasons for returning to Rochester was his good relationship with the fans.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 16, {{mlby|2009}}.

Coaching career

In February 2015, Clark was named the hitting coach of the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.{{cite web |date=February 18, 2015 |title=Orioles Name Minor League Managers, Coaches & Staff |url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/18/orioles-name-minor-league-managers-coaches-staff/ |access-date=February 18, 2015 |work=CBS News}} In February 2017, Clark was named the assistant hitting coach for the Orioles.{{cite web |date=February 16, 2017 |title=Orioles Bring In Howie Clark As Assistant Major League Hitting Coach |url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/02/16/orioles-bring-in-howie-clark-as-assistant-major-league-hitting-coach/ |access-date=May 2, 2017 |website=CBS News}} He was not retained by the ballclub following the 2019 season.{{Cite web |last=Dubroff |first=Rich |date=October 3, 2019 |title=Orioles dismiss Beyeler and Clark as remake of coaching staff begins |url=https://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2019/10/03/remake-orioles-coaching-staff-begins-beyeler-clark-depart/ |access-date=October 3, 2019 |website=Baltimore Baseball |language=en-US}} He was named hitting coach of the Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, for the 2020 season.{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2020 |title=Gastonia Native Wes Helms Named Charlotte's New Manager |url=https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights/news/gastonia-native-wes-helms-named-charlotte-s-new-manager-312411858 |access-date=January 13, 2020 |website=Charlotte Knights |publisher=Minor League Baseball |language=en}} On December 1, 2020, Clark was named assistant hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web |last= |date=December 1, 2020 |title=White Sox Name Tony La Russa's Coaching Staff |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/chicago-baseball/white-sox-name-tony-la-russas-coaching-staff/2383973/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=WMAQ-TV |language=en-US}} In January 2023, Clark became the hitting coach of the Memphis Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web |last=Guerrero |first=Daniel |date=January 19, 2023 |title=Cardinals' new minor league coaches include first uniformed female coach |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-new-minor-league-coaches-include-first-uniformed-female-coach/article_b93acfce-2e68-5164-adf1-04c99a18aca2.html |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}}