Journeyman Clark finds niche with 51s

Several years ago, Howie Clark earned the label as a baseball journeyman, and then he just kept going.

Clark has played 1,490 games for 15 minor league teams in 18 seasons. In between his current stop in Las Vegas and his first stop in Sarasota, Fla., Clark has been almost everywhere.

"If you want me to name them, I can," he said before recalling every team he has played for in exact order. "I can remember my first season like it was yesterday."

At 35, Clark has spent about half his life in the minors while also playing 134 major league games over parts of six seasons with Toronto, Baltimore and Minnesota.

"It has never been a job to me," he said. "I approached it like one, yes, but it's never been work coming to the field. I've enjoyed it.

"If it ever got to the point where it was no fun, I wouldn't play. I have too much respect for the game to have it be something like that."

Clark's latest role is as a second baseman for the 51s. But he has worn many hats along the way.

After graduating from Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School in 1992, he was a 27th-round draft pick by the Orioles, who sent him to rookie ball in Sarasota.

Clark's travels continued to Albany, Ga.; Bluefield, W.Va.; Frederick, Md.; High Desert (Adelanto, Calif.); Bowie, Md.; Rochester, N.Y.; Yucatan (Mexico); Chico, Calif.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Bradenton, Fla.; Altoona, Pa.; Ottawa (Canada); and Manchester, N.H.

He made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2002, has had stints with the Blue Jays in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and played four games for the Twins last year.

"Certain years I got to play quite a bit, and other years it has been predominately a bench role, and it's fine," he said. "Believe it or not, it has gone very, very fast."

Clark's versatility has been a key to his longevity. He has played first, second and third base, shortstop, left field and right field.

"He's a valuable player to have on a team," 51s manager Mike Basso said. "It's good when you know what to expect from people -- their effort level, how they go about their business and all that. Howie is a true professional."

Clark extended his hitting streak to 11 games Saturday with an RBI single in the fourth inning of Las Vegas' 8-7, 10-inning win over Sacramento at Cashman Field.

During the 2000 season, in the third of his five stops in Rochester, Clark broke his left wrist while hitting a double. He couldn't find a job and played for Yucatan -- about three hours west of Cancun -- in the Mexican League in 2001.

"In Mexico, you're somewhat off the map," he said. "But I loved every minute I was down in Yucatan. It was one of my most enjoyable seasons."

He re-signed with the Orioles in 2002 and hit .302 in 14 games in his debut in the majors.

While with the Twins last spring, Clark was mentioned with some of the game's biggest names -- he was part of the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing substances.

Clark is batting .295 in 25 games for Las Vegas (10-19), but his focus is not on a potential call-up to Toronto this season.

"You have to focus on tonight's job. You can't look behind you, and you can't look forward," he said. "Through my years, I figured the easiest way is to keep it simple."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.