Mark Alan Clear (born May 27, 1956) is an American former two-time All Star Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels (1979–80, 1990), Boston Red Sox (1981–85), and Milwaukee Brewers (1986–88). He batted and threw right-handed.[1]
Clear was born in Los Angeles, and is Jewish.[2][3] He attended Northview High School in Covina, California.[1] He later attended Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California.[4]
Clear's uncle is Bob Clear, who was a minor league pitcher in the 1940s and 1950s, and a coach with the California Angels from 1976 to 1986.[5]
Clear was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 8th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft.[1]
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 (becoming the first pitcher to do so), and pitched 100 or more innings in three different seasons.[citation needed]
In 1979, Clear was an All Star and came in 19th in voting for the American League MVP.[1] That year he won the June AL Pitcher of the Month Award.[1] He was 11-5 with a 3.63 ERA. His 14 saves were 7th-most in the American League.[1]
On July 6, 1980, Clear won the AL Pitcher of the Week Award.[1]
In 1982 Clear was again voted an All Star, and finished the season with a career-high 14 wins and 109 strikeouts. He had a 3.00 ERA in 105 innings, and his 14 saves were 9th-most in the American League.[1]
His 2.20 ERA and 16 saves in 1986 were career bests, and his 16 saves were 8th-most in the American League.[1] In May of that season, Clear won the AL Pitcher of the Month Award.[1]
In his 11-year career, Clear compiled a 71-49 record with a 3.85 ERA, 83 saves, and 804 strikeouts in 804.1 innings.[1]