View source for Will Clark

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1964)}}
{{About|the baseball player}}
{{clear}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Will Clark
|image=1986 San Francisco Giants Postcards Will Clark.jpg
|caption=Clark with the San Francisco Giants in 1986
|position=[[First baseman]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1964|3|13|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], Louisiana, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 8
|debutyear=1986
|debutteam=San Francisco Giants
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 1
|finalyear=2000
|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.303
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,176
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=284
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,205
|teams=
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1986}}–{{mlby|1993}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|1998}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2000}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2000}})
|highlights=
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988]]–[[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1992]], [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1994]])
* [[NLCS MVP]] ({{nlcsy|1989}})
* [[Gold Glove Award]] (1991)
* 2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1989, 1991)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|NL RBI leader]] (1988)
* [[Golden Spikes Award]] (1985)
* [[San Francisco Giants#Retired numbers|San Francisco Giants No. 22]] retired
* [[San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame]]
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
'''William Nuschler Clark Jr.''' (born March 13, 1964) is an American professional [[baseball]] [[first baseman]] who played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) from 1986 through 2000. He played for the [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. Clark was known by the nickname of "'''Will the Thrill'''." The nickname has often been truncated to simply, "'''the Thrill'''."<ref name="SI-roots" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://baseballevolution.com/halloffame/clarkw.html |website=BaseballEvolution.com |title=William Nuschler 'Will' Clark, Jr. - 1B |access-date=September 26, 2024 }}</ref>

Clark played [[college baseball]] for the [[Mississippi State Bulldogs]], where he won the [[Golden Spikes Award]], and at the [[Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]] before playing in the major leagues. Clark was a six-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]], a two-time [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner, a [[Gold Glove Award]] winner, and the winner of the [[National League Championship Series]] [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] in 1989.

Clark has been inducted into the [[National College Baseball Hall of Fame]], [[Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame]], [[Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame]], and [[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]. His [[uniform number]], 22, was retired by the Giants during the 2022 season. Clark continues to be active in baseball, serving as a Special Assistant in the Giants' front office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/team/front-office |title=Front Office Roster |website=[[MLB]] |publisher=San Francisco Giants |access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Born and raised primarily in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]],<ref name="SI-roots">{{Cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/05/28/will-clark-giants-1990 |title=Will Power |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=May 28, 1990 |last=Swift |first=E.M. |location=New York City |publisher=Time |access-date=September 26, 2024 }}</ref> Clark graduated from [[Jesuit High School (New Orleans)|Jesuit High School]].<ref name=lafame>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/3bcff907 |title=Will Clark |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |last=Cuicchi |first=Richard |access-date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416233528/https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Will-Clark/ |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> He grew up a [[Kansas City Royals]] fan and was selected by the Royals in the fourth round of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft|1982 draft]], but chose not to sign.<ref name=lafame2>{{cite interview |last=Clark |first=Will |work=Reddit.com/r/SFGiants |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SFGiants/comments/8g9ti1/hi_im_will_clark_here_to_answer_your_questions/ |title=Hi, I'm Will Clark, here to answer your questions @ 2:30 PM PT - AMA! |date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref><ref name="BR">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clarkwi02.shtml/ |title=Will Clark |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |access-date=September 26, 2024 }}</ref>

==College career==
Clark attended [[Mississippi State University]] to play [[college baseball]] for the [[Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball|Mississippi State Bulldogs]]. In 1983, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] for the [[Cotuit Kettleers]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] (CCBL). A league all-star, Clark batted .367 and was inducted into the [[Cape Cod Baseball League#Hall of Fame and Museum|CCBL Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/hofnews/?article_id=229 |title=Ten Legends to be Inducted into Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame |date=June 13, 2004 |work=Cape Cod Baseball League |access-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217175607/http://capecodbaseball.org/news/hofnews/?article_id=229 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Clark played for the [[United States national baseball team|U.S. team]] at the [[Baseball at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]. During the five-game Olympic tournament at [[Dodger Stadium]], he led the team in batting average (.429), hits (9), runs batted in (8), and tied for the team lead in home runs (3).<ref name="Crescent City Sports">{{cite news |last1=Cuicchi |first1=Richard |title=Oh, What a Thrill! Will Clark: Career Overview (Part 2)|url=https://crescentcitysports.com/oh-what-a-thrill-will-clark-career-overview-part-2/ |work=Crescent City Sports |date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>

In {{baseball year|1985}}, ''[[The Sporting News]]'' named Clark an All-American and he later won the [[Golden Spikes Award]] from [[USA Baseball]] as the best amateur baseball player in the country. A teammate of [[Rafael Palmeiro]], the two were known as "Thunder and Lightning."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maroonandwhitenation.com/2015/04/29/sec-storied-thunder-lightning-to-premiere-monday/|title=SEC Storied: Thunder & Lightning to Premiere Monday|last=Norwood|first=Andrew|website=M&W Nation|date=2015-04-29|access-date=May 5, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518221702/http://maroonandwhitenation.com/2015/04/29/sec-storied-thunder-lightning-to-premiere-monday/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Clark and Palmeiro were known to dislike each other, dating back to their time at Mississippi State.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|title=Baseball; Thoughts Deep in the Heart of Texas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/09/sports/baseball-thoughts-deep-in-the-heart-of-texas.html|access-date=October 8, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=B13|date=March 9, 1994|ref=nyt_clark_palm}}</ref> The Bulldogs finished fourth at the [[College World Series]] in [[1985 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#College World Series|1985]], and Clark was named to the [[1985 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#All-Tournament Team|all-tournament team]].

==Professional career==
===Draft and minor leagues===
After his junior season at Mississippi State, Clark was the second overall pick of the [[1985 Major League Baseball draft]], selected by the [[1985 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]].<ref name=library>{{Cite web |url=https://baseballbiography.com/will-clark-1964 |title=Will Clark |website=BaseballBiography.com |access-date=September 26, 2024 }}</ref> He played that summer with [[Fresno Giants|Fresno]] of the Class A [[California League]].

===San Francisco Giants (1986&ndash;1993)===
In his first major league [[at-bat]] on April 8, [[1986 San Francisco Giants season|1986]], on his first swing, Clark hit a home run off [[Nolan Ryan]].<ref name=library/> A few days later, Clark also homered in his first home game at [[Candlestick Park]]. An elbow injury cost Clark 47 games in his rookie season.<ref name=library/> Clark finished the year with a .287 batting average and placed fifth in National League [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] voting.

[[Image:Will Clark preparing to bat during seventh inning of 12 August 1992 game between San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros (cropped).jpg|thumb|Clark prepares to bat at [[Candlestick Park]] in [[1992 San Francisco Giants season|1992]]]]<!-- Wed 12 Aug 1992 -->
In his first full season in {{mlby|1987}}, Clark had a .308 batting average. Clark was voted the starting first baseman for the NL All-Star team every season from [[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988]] through [[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1992]]. In {{mlby|1988}}, Clark was the first Giants' player to drive in 90 or more runs in consecutive seasons since [[Bobby Murcer]] from {{mlby|1975}}-{{mlby|1976}}.

In {{mlby|1989}}, Clark batted .333 (losing the batting title to [[Tony Gwynn]] on the final day of the season) with 111 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs). Clark finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting to Giants teammate [[Kevin Mitchell (baseball)|Kevin Mitchell]]. In {{mlby|1989}}, Clark and the [[1989 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] defeated the [[1989 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] in the [[1989 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]] (NLCS). In Game 1, Clark had already hit a solo home run. Prior to a subsequent at-bat, Cubs' [[catcher]] [[Rick Wrona]] went to the mound to discuss with [[Greg Maddux]] how to pitch to Clark. From the on-deck circle, Clark watched the conversation and read Greg Maddux's lips saying "fastball high, inside." The first pitch was a fastball high and inside which Clark sent into the street beyond right field for a grand slam. Afterwards, pitchers began to cover their mouths with their gloves when having conversations on the pitcher's mound.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stark |first=Jayson |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9589483/the-history-glove-talking-baseball |title=Talk to the glove! |work=[[ESPN]] |date=August 21, 2013 |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}</ref> (The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'''s front page the next day paid tribute to his performance with a headline of "Clark's night on Addison", referring to the street outside Wrigley Field where the home runs landed.<ref>[[Chicago Tribune]], October 5, 1989, page A1</ref>)

In Game 5 of the series, Clark faced Cubs [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Mitch Williams]] with the score 1–1 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Clark [[Single (baseball)|singled]] to [[Baseball field#outfield|center field]] to drive in two runs, breaking the tie, eventually sending the Giants to the [[World Series]]. Clark's efforts, which included a .650 batting average and two home runs, resulted in him being named [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award#National League winners|NLCS MVP]]. The Giants went on to face the [[1989 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in the [[1989 World Series]], but were swept. In the only World Series appearance of his career, Clark failed to contribute significantly at the plate, finishing with no runs batted in and a .250 batting average while battling tonsillitis.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-16-sp-269-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |title=Raspy, Feverish, Will Clark Skips Batting Practice |date=October 16, 1989 |agency=Associated Press }}</ref>

Clark had become a very durable player since his rookie year injury, setting a San Francisco record with 320 consecutive games played from September 1987 through August 1989.<ref name=library/> In January 1990, he signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Giants, which at the time made him the highest-paid player in the majors.<ref name="NYT-1990">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/23/sports/will-clark-package-zooms-to-15-million.html |work=The New York Times |title=Will Clark Package Zooms to $15 Million |page=B9 |agency=Associated Press |date=January 23, 1990 |access-date=September 27, 2024 }} {{subscription required}}</ref> However, a string of injuries reduced his playing time in the early 1990s and diminished his production. Clark drove in just 73 runs in {{mlby|1992}}, the lowest total since his rookie year.<ref name="BR" />

[[File:Willclark97.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Will Clark [[on-deck]] during 1997 MLB season]]

===Texas Rangers (1994–1998)===
The [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] signed Clark to replace his former Mississippi State teammate, [[Rafael Palmeiro]], at first base. Clark made the [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|American League All-Star team]] in 1994<ref name="BR" /> and finished the season with a .329 batting average, the second-highest of his career. He maintained a high level of offensive production throughout his tenure with Texas, finishing below .300 only in 1996. Injuries limited his playing time to 123, 117 and 110 games from 1995 through 1997, but Clark led the Rangers to [[American League West]] Division titles in [[1996 Major League Baseball season|1996]] and [[1998 Major League Baseball season|1998]]. Clark struggled offensively in both the 1996 and 1998 [[Playoffs|postseasons]], though he put together his most productive regular season in seven years in 1998 (.305, 23 HRs, 41 2Bs, 102&nbsp;RBIs). Following the 1998 season, the Rangers re-signed Rafael Palmeiro, effectively ending Clark's days with the team.

===Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals (1999&ndash;2000)===
Clark signed a two-year deal with the Orioles before the {{mlby|1999}} season, again replacing Palmeiro, who had left Baltimore to return to Texas. Part of the reason Clark chose Baltimore was to be near [[Johns Hopkins Hospital]] in [[Baltimore]], since Clark's son, Trey, has autism.<ref name="shreveporttimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/2015/05/17/now-will-clark-focuses-family/27503883/ |title=Where are they now: Will Clark focuses on family |work=[[The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana)|The Times]] |last=Courtney |first=Lloyd |date=2015-05-17 |access-date=2022-08-02}}</ref> Clark spent nearly two years with Baltimore but was plagued by injuries. On June 15, Clark got his 2000th [[Hit (baseball)|hit]] versus the [[1999 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]].

At the [[MLB trade deadline]] in 2000, the Orioles traded Clark to the [[2000 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[José León (baseball)|José León]]. He was acquired in part to play in place of the injured [[Mark McGwire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0731/661735.html |title=Orioles trade Clark, Surhoff to NL contenders |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=July 31, 2000 |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}</ref> Clark batted .345 while hitting 12 home runs and driving in 42 runs in 51 games. Clark helped the Cardinals defeat the [[2000 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] in the [[2000 National League Division Series|NLDS]] with four [[runs batted in]] during the series. In the [[2000 National League Championship Series|NLCS]], the Cardinals faced the [[2000 New York Mets season|New York Mets]]. Clark batted .412 in the series but the Mets won the series and the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] pennant. Despite being revitalized during his time with the Cardinals, he decided to retire at the end of the season, largely due to familial obligations.<ref name="shreveporttimes1"/> Clark batted .319 during his final season and went 1 for 3 in his final game on October 16, 2000.

==Legacy==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = SFGiants 22.png
|Name   = Will Clark
|Number = 22
|Team   = San Francisco Giants
|Year   = 2022
|}}

Clark was inducted into the [[College Baseball Hall of Fame]] in {{baseball year|2006}}. He was inducted into the [[Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame]] in June 2004,<ref name=lafame3>{{cite web |url=https://lasportshall.com/?inductees=will-clark|title=Will Clark|website=Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref> the [[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]] on April 26, 2007,<ref name=bafame1>{{cite web |url=http://www.bashof.org/Hall_of_Fame_2007.html|title=Hall of Fame Inductees (2007)|website=Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408021451/https://bashof.org/Hall_of_Fame_2007.html |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=bafame2>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/New-inductees-remember-Rice-ex-Giant-Clark-2599101.php|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|title=New inductees remember / Rice, ex-Giant Clark among those recalling their finest hours|first1=Tom |last1=FitzGerald|date=April 27, 2007}}</ref> and the [[Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame]] on August 1, 2008.<ref name=msfame>{{cite web |url=http://www.msfame.com/artman/publish/article_437.shtml |title=Induction Weekend Opens Friday; Tickets Available |website=Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum |date=July 11, 2008 |last=Rubenstein |first=Michael |df=mdy-all |access-date=2021-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225005702/http://www.msfame.com/artman/publish/article_437.shtml |archive-date=February 25, 2012}}</ref> Clark's final statistics were 284 home runs, 1,205 RBI, a .303 batting average, and a .881 OPS.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/9931/ |title=Will Clark |website=The Baseball Cube |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}</ref> In 2006 Hall of Fame balloting, Clark received 23 votes, 4.4% of the total, which withdrew him from consideration from future ballots, as he did not receive the required 5% threshold to stay on.<ref name="MLB-HoF">{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-clark-considered-in-hall-of-fame-vote-c209864780 |title=Will in-depth numbers support Clark's cause? |last=Haft |first=Chris |date=November 29, 2016 |website=MLB |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}</ref>

Clark holds the record for most home runs against Hall of Fame Pitcher Nolan Ryan with 6.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=ryanno01&t=p |title=Nolan Ryan Career Home Runs Allowed |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}</ref>

It was announced on August 11, 2019, that the Giants would retire Clark's #22 during the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27371890|title=Giants to retire Will Clark's No. 22 next year|date=2019-08-12|website=ESPN|language=en |df=mdy-all|access-date=2019-08-12}}</ref> However, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] the retirement ceremony was postponed to 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-likely-to-push-will-clark-ceremony-back-to-2022/1134548/|date=February 20, 2021|website=NBCSportsBayArea.com|last=Pavlovic|first=Alex|access-date=September 27, 2024|title=Giants likely to push Will Clark ceremony back to 2022}}</ref>  Clark's number was ceremoniously retired on July 30, 2022.

==Accomplishments and honors==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Championships'''
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Title
! style="background:#ccf;"|{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
! style="background:#ccf;"|Dates
|-
| [[List of National League pennant winners|National League champion]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| [[1989 National League Championship Series|1989]] 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Awards received'''
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Name of award
! style="background:#ccf;"|{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
! style="background:#ccf;"|Dates
|-
|[[Baseball Digest]] Player of the Year
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|1989<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_bdpy.shtml | title=Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
|2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bashof.org/inductees/will-clark/ | title=Will Clark | website=Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Spikes Award]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|[[1985 NCAA Division I baseball season|1985]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/history/winners | title=Golden Spikes Award Winners |website=USA Baseball | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Louisiana High School Athletic Association]] Hall of Fame
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
| 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lhsaa.org/siteuploads/editorimg/file/Louisiana%20High%20School%20Sports%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20Inductees.pdf | title=Hall of Fame Distinguished Members |website=Louisiana High School Athletic Association | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
| 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lasportshall.com/?inductees=will-clark | title=Will Clark |website=Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| [[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988]], [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]], [[1990 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1990]], [[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]], [[1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1992]], [[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1994]]
|-
| [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|MLB Player of the Month]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|June 1988,<ref name="Player of the Month">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/awards/player-of-the-month | title=Player of the Month |website=MLB | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> May 1989,<ref name="Player of the Month"/><br />September 1989,<ref name="Player of the Month"/> August 1991<ref name="Player of the Month"/>
|-
| [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|MLB Player of the Week]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
| Aug. 6, 1987,<ref name="Player of the Week">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/awards/player-of-the-week | title=Player of the Week |website=MLB | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Sep. 18, 1987<ref name="Player of the Week"/><br /> Jun. 24, 1988,<ref name="Player of the Week"/> Aug. 5, 1988<ref name="Player of the Week"/><br /> Apr. 22, 1989,<ref name="Player of the Week"/> Jul. 13, 1991<ref name="Player of the Week"/><br /> May. 7, 1994,<ref name="Player of the Week"/> Aug. 5, 2000<ref name="Player of the Week"/>
|-
| [[Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame]] 
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
| 2008 <ref>{{cite web| url=https://msfame.com/inductees/william-clark/| title=William 'Will' Clark |website=Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mississippi State University]]  [[Mississippi State Bulldogs|Athletics]] Hall of Fame 
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
| 2003 <ref>{{cite web| url=https://hailstate.com/sports/2021/10/25/m-club-hall-of-fame.aspx| title=The Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame |website=Mississippi State University Athletics| access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[National College Baseball Hall of Fame]]
| style="text-align:center;"| N/A
|2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame/class-of-2006 | title= 2006 College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees |website= MLB| access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|Championship Series MVP]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|[[1989 National League Championship Series|1989]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_mvpl.shtml | title=League Championship Most Valuable Player Award |website=Baseball Almanac | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers|Number 22 retired]] by [[San Francisco Giants]] 
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A
|2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-clark-s-number-retired-by-giants | title= Will the Thrill's 22 immortalized at Oracle Park |date= July 30, 2022 | website=MLB | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] at [[List of Gold Glove Award winners at first base|first base]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
|1991<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rawlings.com/gold-glove-winners | title=Gold Glove Winner |website=Rawlings | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame]]
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A
|2008
|-
| [[Silver Slugger Award]] at [[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at first base|first base]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| [[1989 Major League Baseball season|1989]],<ref name="Silver Slugger">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/awards/silver-slugger | title=Silver Slugger |website=MLB | access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> [[1991 Major League Baseball season|1991]]<ref name="Silver Slugger"/>
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''National League statistical leader'''
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Category
! style="background:#ccf;"|{{Tooltip|Times|Number of times achieved}}
! style="background:#ccf;"|Seasons
|-
| [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|RBI leader]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1988 Major League Baseball season|1988]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Plate appearance]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1988 Major League Baseball season|1988]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Base on Balls]] (Walks)
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1988 Major League Baseball season|1988]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Intentional base on balls]] (Intentional Walks)
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1988 Major League Baseball season|1988]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Run (baseball)|Runs]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1989 Major League Baseball season|1989]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Slugging Percentage]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1991 Major League Baseball season|1991]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
| [[Total bases]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1991 Major League Baseball season|1991]]<ref name="BR" />
|-
|}

==Personal life==
Clark is married to Lisa White Clark, whom he wed in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.medadmbjmc.in/who-is-will-clark-wife-lisa-clark/ | title=Who is Will Clark Wife Lisa Clark? Meet the Former American professional Baseball Player Family | date=August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/lisawhiteclark/ |title=Lisa White Clark (@lisawhiteclark) • Instagram photos and videos |publisher=Instagram.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-02}}</ref> Their son Trey was born in 1996.<ref name="Sun-sentinel.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-02-26-9902260041-story.html |title=Dark Moment For Clark Has Softened His Glare |work=[[Sun Sentinel]] |date=February 26, 1999 |access-date=August 2, 2022 }} {{subscription required}}</ref> In 1998, at age two, Trey was diagnosed with autism. Will and Lisa also have a daughter, Ella.<ref name="shreveporttimes1"/> Clark is a spokesman for [[Autism Speaks]] and Anova.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Carroll |first=Bailey |url=https://www.ktvu.com/sports/will-clark-reflects-on-patience-it-took-to-find-success-at-the-plate-and-as-a-dad |title=Giants legend Will Clark says his biggest life challenge happened off the field, as a dad |work=[[KTVU]] |date=July 31, 2022 |access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref> In 1999, Clark's wife Lisa had open heart surgery to address a hole that had been undiagnosed since birth.<ref name="Sun-sentinel.com"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Louisiana|Baseball}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual putouts leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career assists as a first baseman leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games played as a first baseman leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career OPS leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Baseballstats|mlb=112345|espn=1793|br=c/clarkwi02|fangraphs=1002318|brm=clark-007wil|retro=C/Pclarw001}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|3bcff907}}

{{United States baseball roster 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{SEC Male Athlete of the Year}}
{{1985 College Baseball All-Americans}}
{{1985 MLB Draft}}
{{San Francisco Giants first-round draft picks}}
{{San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame}}
{{Golden Spikes Award}}
{{NL RBI champions}}
{{NLCS MVP}}
{{NL 1B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL First Baseman Gold Glove Award}}
{{National College Baseball Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Will}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks executives]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:Jesuit High School (New Orleans) alumni]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Louisiana]]
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[[Category:Texas Rangers players]]
[[Category:National League Championship Series MVPs]]
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[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
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[[Category:All-American college baseball players]]
[[Category:Cotuit Kettleers players]]
[[Category:Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]