Tim Clark thought his career might have ended when the Brewers released him after a brief team-induced try at pitching in spring 1992, The Philadelphia Daily News wrote.
But then independent Salt Lake picked him up an, by 1993, he was in the Marlins system and leading all of the minors in RBI by mid-August, The Daily News wrote.
"It is kind of weird how everything has turned out," Clark told The Daily News then.
Clark went on from three to see five more campaigns, including time in Mexico and in Taiwan. He topped out at AA.
Clark's career began in 1990, taken by the Brewers in the eighth round of the draft out of Louisiana State University.
At LSU, Clark helped the team to the 1990 College World Series, including hitting a round-one two-run home run.
He started with the Brewers at single-A Beloit. He saw 67 games and hit .260. He spoke to The Daily News about early confidence issues at Beloit.
"Until recently, I was hitting lefthanders better than I ever had in my life," Clark told The Daily News early that August. "But I got pinch-hit for one game, and that took away a little bit of my confidence. I haven't been swinging with as much authority against them."
Clark played 1991 at high-A Stockton. He hit .274 there in 125 games. He then caught on with Salt Lake for 1993 and hit .357 in 69 games there.
That July at Salt Lake, he picked up five hits in one game and four in another, both at Butte, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.
"To say he's been on a roll is an understatement," Salt Lake manager Nick Belmonte told The Tribune. "He's been on this tear for a month or so."
Moving to the Marlins system for 1993, he played that year at high-A High Desert. He ended the year with 126 RBI and a .363 average.
He made AA Portland for 1994 and 1995, hitting .265 and .271. He then played 1996 and 1997 in Mexico, with Saltillo and 1998 between Saltillo, Cancun, AA Bowie and Wei Chaun in Taiwan to end his career.
- Philadelphia Daily News, Aug. 7, 1990: Roman's Clark Making Strides in Minors
- Salt Lake Tribune, July 31, 1992: Red-Hot Traps Continue Tear, Drub Copper Kings
- Philadelphia Daily News, Aug. 18, 1993: Suddenly, he's hit his stride
Made the Majors:1,399-32.2%
Never Made Majors:2,940-67.8%-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:352
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