Hall of Fame

Dave Clark

  • Class
  • Induction
    2002
  • Sport(s)
    Legend, Baseball
  • Jackson State
  • Dave Clark was born on September 3, 1962, in Tupelo, Mississippi.
  • · He attended Shannon High School in Shannon, Mississippi.
  • · At Jackson State University, Clark distinguished himself in baseball: he was a two-time team MVP (1982  & 1983) and helped lead the program to a SWAC title and NCAA regional appearance.
  • · His college performance led to him being selected in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 1983 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians.
Major League Playing Career
  • Clark made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Cleveland Indians on September 3, 1986
  • Over his MLB career, his batting line included a .264 average, 62 home runs, and 284 RBIs.
  • His playing career spanned multiple teams, including Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Houston Astros among others.

  • Coaching & Managerial Career
    • After his playing days, Clark transitioned into coaching and managing. He managed at the minor-league level, including leading the AA Corpus Christi Hooks to a Texas League championship in 2006.
    • He served as an interim manager for the Houston Astros in 2009, finishing that stint with a record of 4 wins and 9 losses.
    • More recently, Clark has held coaching roles including as first base coach and outfield instructor for the Detroit Tigers and then returned to the Astros coaching staff.
    • Clark’s time at JSU is notable: he was inducted into the Jackson State Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.