If it appears that Howie Clark treats every day with the Orioles like it?s his last, it?s because he knows that may be true.
Clark is currently in his third stint with the organization after signing with the team as a minor league free agent in the offseason. He rejoined the parent club June 16 from Triple-A Ottawa two days after outfielder Jay Gibbons went on the disabled list.
A true definition of a journeyman, Clark has played anywhere in any uniform in hopes of continuing his professional baseball career, which began as a 27th-round draft pick by Baltimore in 1992. Along with stops with practically every Orioles minor league affiliate, Clark has also spent time in the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, along with stints in the Mexican and Independent Western leagues.
Clark decided to sign with Baltimore this year because of past relationships with the team, including ones with manager Sam Perlozzo, hitting coach Terry Crowley and first base coach Rick Dempsey, who were all with the Orioles when Clark made his major league debut in 2002.
“I needed to go to a situation where I would be comfortable, and this organization has been the best,” Clark said. “Every day I?m here, I know I?m day-to-day.”
Clark wasn?t sure whether he would still have a job in baseball in 2006 after missing the first three months of last season with lower back and hamstring injuries as a non-roster invitee with the Pirates.
He eventually advanced to Double-A Altoona, but with just 137 minor league at-bats in 2005, Clark knew there would be few teams willing to take a chance on a 32-year-old utility player with one year, nine days of major league service entering this season.
THE CLARK FILE
Age: 32
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 196 pounds
Hometown: North Bend, Wash.
Did you know? Clark had a 16-game hitting streak with Ottawa snapped two days before rejoining the Orioles ? He appeared in 14 games with the Orioles in 2002 and a combined 78 games for Toronto between 2003 and 2004 ? He entered the year a career .277 hitter with three homers and 23 RBI in 92 major league games.
