Mark Clear


Mark Alan Clear is a former two-time All Star Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He batted and threw right-handed.

Early and personal life

Clear was born in Los Angeles, and is Jewish. He attended Northview High School in Covina, California. He later attended Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California.
Clear's uncle is Bob Clear, who was a minor league pitcher from the 1940s to the 1950s, and was a coach with the California Angels from 1976 to 1986.

Baseball career

He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 8th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft.
A hard curveballer with shaky control, Clear was a flexible set-up man, and an occasional closer as well. Twice he struck out 100-plus batters without starting a game, and pitched 100 or more innings in three different seasons.
In 1979 he was an All Star and came in 19th in voting for the American League MVP. That year he won the June AL Pitcher of the Month Award. He was 11-5 with a 3.63 ERA. His 14 saves were 7th-most in the American League.
On July 6, 1980, he won the AL Pitcher of the Week Award.
In 1982 Clear had his best season, with a career-high 14 wins and 109 strikeouts. He added a 3.00 ERA in 105 innings. His 14 saves were 9th-most in the American League. He was again voted an All Star.
His 2.20 ERA and 16 saves in 1986 were also career bests. His 16 saves were 8th-most in the American League. That season in May he won the AL Pitcher of the Month Award.
In an 11-year career, Clear compiled a 71-49 record with a 3.85 ERA, 83 saves, and 804 strikeouts in 804.1 innings. He was an All-Star selection in both 1979 and 1982.