Mel Clark

Born: 7/7/1924 in Letart, WV, USA

Died: 5/1/2014 in West Columbia, WV, USA

MLB Debut: 1951-09-11 | Final Game: 1957-05-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Melvin Earl Clark

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Biography

Mel Clark was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1957. Born in 1924, Clark was primarily known for his versatility as a position player, participating in 215 games throughout his career. He achieved a solid batting average of .277, which reflected his ability to hit consistently in a competitive era of baseball marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game. During his tenure, Clark recorded 182 hits, contributing to 63 runs batted in and hitting 3 home runs. He also showcased his speed on the basepaths, finishing his career with 3 stolen bases. Although not a superstar, Clark's reliability and performance in the field helped solidify his role on his teams during a time when baseball was evolving and attracting a larger fan base. His contributions to the game remain a part of baseball history, highlighting the efforts of players who laid the groundwork for future generations.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
215	656	82	182	29	15	3	63	3	37	61	0.277	0.318	0.381	0.699	-257.9

Career AVG .277 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — +7.1% above league average.

Career OBP .318 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .381 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.699 vs. league average 0.719 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1951	PHI	NL	10	31	2	10	1	0	1	3	0	0	3	0.323	—	—	—	—	0.0
1952	PHI	NL	47	155	20	52	6	4	1	15	2	6	13	0.335	.252 (+33%)	.326 (+11%)	.369 (+20%)	.696 (+16%)	365.7
1953	PHI	NL	60	198	31	59	10	4	0	19	1	11	17	0.298	.264 (+13%)	.335 (+1%)	.397 (-2%)	.733 (-1%)	-69.1
1954	PHI	NL	83	233	26	56	9	7	1	24	0	17	21	0.240	.261 (-8%)	.333 (-13%)	.390 (-10%)	.723 (-11%)	-554.4
1955	PHI	NL	10	32	3	5	3	0	0	1	0	3	4	0.156	—	—	—	—	0.0
1957	DET	AL	5	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0