CCC to Host Baseball Great Dave Clark '72 as He Shares Heroic Experiences

Corning Community College to Host Dave Clark ‘72 as He Shares Heroic Experiences as the Only Major League Baseball Player to Pitch from Crutches

Imagine being 5-foot-2 and playing professional baseball. Not just playing, but also managing, coaching, scouting, owning a professional barnstorming team that toured the country, and traveling Europe as a representative of Major League Baseball. Along the way, he nearly got “the call” to the major leagues as a pitcher…..now imagine doing it all on crutches due to polio.

Corning Community College is pleased to welcome home, Dave Clark, Class of 1972 and first CCC baseball coach, on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the Gymnasium on the Spencer Hill campus, Corning, NY. As a native of Corning, NY, Clark now lives in Cape Coral, FL, with his wife, daughter, and son. At the age of 10-months, Clark contracted polio that stunted his growth and left him without the full use of his legs. Despite that, and perhaps because of it, he was driven to excel in physical competition against so-called able-bodied people. The Dave Clark story is likely the greatest "mostly unknown" professional sports account of our time and teaches unforgettable life lessons that give hope to anyone facing a challenge whether large or small.

Award winning local journalist, Roger A. Neumann, wrote the memoir, “Diamond in the Rough - the Dave Clark Story,” tracing Clark’s life story from birth to today. The book may be purchased online at Create Space (www.createspace.com/3660157) by typing "Dave Clark" in the search box in the upper right hand corner.

Suffering from the effects of Post Polio Syndrome (PPS), Clark amassed over 600 wins during his 30-year baseball career that began in the early 1970’s. He is currently a motivational speaker, envoy coach for Major League Baseball International, a scout for the Baltimore Orioles, and radio analyst for the Florida Everblades.

Despite being afflicted with polio, Clark, while playing on crutches went on to enjoy a 17-year professional baseball career as a pitcher-first baseman. Clarks’ final pitching career statistics include 30 wins, 15 losses, 31 saves and an earned run average of 3/31, while his career batting average was .254. He served as the first intercollegiate baseball coach for Corning Community College in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s along with serving as player/manager/owner of America’s last barnstorming baseball team and one of the original Negro Leagues team - the Indianapolis Clowns.

Clark has accumulated numerous awards and honors including:
1975 - Fireman of the Year as the top relief pitcher for the Indianapolis Clowns
1977 - Inducted to the Corning-Painted Post Hall of Fame
1981 - Selected to the Swedish Elite Baseball League All-Star Team as a pitcher
1996 - Received a national Giant Steps Award for coaching
1997 - Named manager of the Swedish Elite League All-Star Game
1999 - Received the National Heroes of Sports Award
2001 - Received the Corning Community College Distinguished Alumni Award
2002 - Inducted into the Ithaca College Hall of Fame
2008 - Published “Diamond in the Rough” The Dave Clark Story, as told to Roger A. Neumann
2010 - One of the “150 Heroes: People in Sports Who Make This a Better World” by Richard Lapchick
2011 - Bo Jackson Courage award winner, presented by the Pitch & Hit Club

THE DAVE CLARK PULLING EACH OTHER ALONG AWARD

The Dave Clark, “Pulling Each Other Along” Award was launched because of the kind acts received from those who provided encouragement throughout Dave’s incredible life journey. This award will be presented across the country to individuals who have unselfishly helped those with a disability. Nomination forms can be found at http://daveclarkbaseball.com/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=24716 or by emailing award@daveclarkbaseball.com.

For additional information, please contact Debbie Stayer Kelly ‘91 at (607) 962-9144 or kelly_d@corning-cc.edu. To learn more about Dave Clark ’72, visit www.daveclarkbaseball.com.