Sumpter Clarke

Born: 10/18/1897 in Savannah, GA, USA

Died: 3/16/1962 in Knoxville, TN, USA

MLB Debut: 1920-09-27 | Final Game: 1924-09-19

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs

Full name: Sumpter Mills Clarke

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Biography

Sumpter Clarke, born in 1897, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1920 to 1924. Primarily serving as a position player, Clarke appeared in a total of 37 games during his time in Major League Baseball. He finished his career with 25 hits, contributing 11 runs batted in, and held a batting average of .227. Despite not hitting any home runs or collecting stolen bases, Clarke's presence on the field during the early 1920s reflected a transitional period in baseball as the sport began to embrace a more dynamic style of play. Clarke’s playing career unfolded during a pivotal time in baseball history marked by the tail end of the deadball era and the onset of the live-ball era, which would soon shift the focus towards more offensive production. While his individual statistics may not capture the spotlight, Clarke's experience in the league contributed to the rich tapestry of early 20th-century baseball, highlighting the variety of talent that graced the diamond during those formative years. His legacy, though modest in numbers, remains a testament to the many players who laid the groundwork for the generations that followed.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
4.0	4.0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.250	0.250	0.250	0.500

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1932	4.0	4.0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.250	0.250	0.250	0.500

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
37	110	17	25	6	1	0	11	0	6	13	0.227	0.267	0.300	0.567	-398.2

Career AVG .227 vs. league average .280 across their career seasons — 18.8% below league average.

Career OBP .267 vs. league average .341 across their career seasons — 21.6% below league average.

Career SLG .300 vs. league average .382 across their career seasons — 21.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.567 vs. league average 0.723 across their career seasons — 21.5% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1920	CHC	NL	1	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0.333	—	—	—	—	0.0
1923	CLE	AL	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1924	CLE	AL	35	104	17	24	6	1	11	6	12	0.231	.283 (-19%)	.345 (-21%)	.389 (-21%)	.734 (-21%)	-398.2