A native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Clarke signed with the Yankees after high school in 1958. After a long tenure in the minor leagues, Clarke made his MLB debut in 1965. After splitting time at second base, third base and shortstop, Clarke became the team's everyday second baseman in 1967 after Bobby Richardson's retirement.
Clarke would patrol second base for the Yankees until he was sold to the San Diego Padres during the 1974 season after which he retired. His best overall season came in 1969 when he hit a career high .285 with 48 RBI while leading the AL with 641 at bats. Clarke would lead the league in at bats in 1970 as well. That season Clarke would thrice break up no-hitters with ninth inning hits foiling the bids of Jim Rooker, Sonny Siebert and Joe Niekro. This feat has only been matched by Minnesota Twins great Joe Mauer. Aside from Elrod Hendricks, Clarke is probably the best MLB player to hail from the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 1272 games, Hendricks collected 1230 hits for a lifetime batting average of .256 with 27 HR and 304 RBI.
During Clarke's tenure with the Yankees they made no post-season appearances. As such the Yankees of 1965-1974 are maligned somewhat as The Horace Clarke Era. Their best season in this period was 1970 when they won 93 games but finished a distant 15 games back of the eventual World Series champion Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. But win or lose, Clarke was a steady if unspectacular defender and a good contact hitter striking out only 362 times in nearly 5250 plate appearances.
After his playing career ended, Clarke worked as a scout for the Kansas City Royals before returning to the U.S. Virgin Islands to work as a baseball instructor for the Department of Houses, Parks and Recreation. But he will forever be a Yankee. R.I.P.
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