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Clark Withdraws From The Game of Baseball

One of the greatest hitters ever to play British baseball, William Clark, has announced he will no longer be playing in the Baseball League.

Clark played for 21 seasons in the League, coming in with the Sunderland club. He was the best batsman in the League for five years, in 1890 and then from 1893 through 1896. He led the League in hits twice, runs scored four times, stolen bases thrice, and hits average twice. He was also considered the finest defensive right fielder in the game during his halcyon years. In addition, he was practically indestructible for a time, missing only 25 starts in 1,482 matches between 1892 and 1906, almost all due entirely to injury leave in 1901.

Clark finishes as the League historical leader in runs scored with 1,488. He also is drawn for second in league history in games played with 1,817; second in stolen bases with 935 (only one less than Ed Stevenson’s record of 936); fourth in hits with 2,382; fourth in three base hits with 266; fifth in base on balls with 1,106; and seventh in hits average with .351. He could also display a bit of home run power, clubbing 76 during his illustrious career, good for eighteenth on the League’s historical ledger.

Most importantly, Clark was instrumental in Black Cats’ success as a championship club, leading them to four, in 1895, 1897, 1905, and 1907, as well as an EOI cup in 1905.

William Clark will surely be remembered as one of the greatest baseball players in British history until the end of time.