Fred Clarke

After retiring from a Hall of Fame career, Clarke settled down to his “Little Pirate Ranch” near Winfield in 1915.  He became wealthy when oil was discovered on the property and helped found the Winfield Country Club.

Clarke was born in Iowa in 1872 and broke into the majors with the Louisville Colonels in 1894.  He made an immediate impact, collecting a major league record five hits in his first game.  In his second season, Clarke hit .347 with 40 stolen bases and had more walks (34) than strikeouts (24 – in 597 plate appearances).

Clarke established himself as one of the league’s top hitters and outfielders.  In 1897, he hit .390.  That season, he assumed managerial duties of the Colonels, a team that included Honus Wagner and Rube Waddell.

In 1900 owner Barney Dreyfuss took over ownership in Pittsburgh and the Louisville stars, including Clarke, came to play for the Pirates.  During his 15-year career with the Pirates, Clarke was a player-manager.

In 1903, Clarke hit .351 / .414 / .946 to lead the Pirates to the first-ever World Series.  C 1903, the.  Clarke hit only .265 in the eight-game series, as the Pirates lost to the Boston Americans.

In 1909, a 36-year-old Clarke hit .287 as the Pirates made it back to the World Series.  This time, they defeated Detroit.

Clarke retired in 1915.  For his 21-year playing career, Clarke hit .312 with 2,678 hits, 1,622 runs and 509 stolen bases. In only two seasons did he have more strikeouts that walks.  For his career, he walked 875 times and struck out 511 in 9,864 plate appearances.

With his wealth found in Winfield, Clarke became part owner of the Pirates.  He was named vice president and served as the team’s bench coach.  He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.

Clarke died in Winfield in 1960 at the age of 87.  He is buried in the St. Mary Cemetery in Winfield.

For more, read Fred Clarke’s Society for American Baseball Research bio.