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Detroit Tigers: 1990’s All-Decade Team

By Andy Patton

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 25: Alan Trammell #3 of the Detroit Tigers fields the ball during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on June 25, 1996 in Oakland, California. The Tigers defeated the A's 10-8. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 25: Alan Trammell #3 of the Detroit Tigers fields the ball during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on June 25, 1996 in Oakland, California. The Tigers defeated the A's 10-8. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park prior to the start of the opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

First Baseman – Tony Clark

1990’s Stats: .277/.355/.502 121 OPS+ 12.2 bWAR

Tony Clark had big shoes to fill when he replaced first baseman Cecil Fielder in 1995. Clark was up to the task however, posting a 121 OPS+ and hitting 156 home runs in a Tigers uniform.

The switch-hitting slugger was drafted second overall by the Tigers in the 1990 draft. He debuted in 1995 and hit .238 with three home runs in 101 at-bats.

Clark posted an ugly .299 OBP in 1996, but managed to blast 27 home runs. Fielder was traded at midseason, putting Clark squarely in the drivers seat as Detroit’s new slugging first baseman.

Clark took off from 1997-1999. He posted three consecutive 30 home run seasons, slashing .282/.365/.510 with a 125 OPS+. Clark collected a 9.5 bWAR in those three seasons, for an average of 3.2 per season.

Clark remained with the Tigers through his All-Star 2001 season. He then spent the next eight seasons playing for five different teams. He hit 95 more home runs to give him 251 for his career.

After calling it quits in 2009, Clark joined the MLBPA in 2010. He ascended into the role of Executive Director of the MLBPA in 2013, a role he still holds today. He became the first former player to hold the role.

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