Fred Clifford Clarke (October 3, 1872 – August 14, 1960) was an American Major League Baseball player from 1894 to 1915 and manager from 1897 to 1915.

He and fellow Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Vic Willis led Pittsburgh to a victory over Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers in the 1909 World Series.

As a child in Des Moines, Clarke sold newspapers for the Iowa State Register where his boss was future Baseball Hall of Fame member, Ed Barrow.

[1] Clarke was discovered in the minor leagues by Louisville part-owner, Barney Dreyfuss, and joined the Colonels in 1894.

[5]) Despite Clarke's excellent hitting and the presence of fellow Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Rube Waddell, the team struggled for several years.

[6] When the Colonels folded, Barney Dreyfuss became the owner of the Pittsburgh franchise and tapped Clarke, Wagner, Waddell, Deacon Phillippe, and others to accompany him.

The following season, his last as a regular player, 38-year-old Clarke made 10 putouts in left field in one game on April 25, 1911.

In 1912, Clarke passed Cap Anson and Frank Selee, giving him the Major League record for wins by a manager.

After his managing days ended in 1915, Clarke returned to his "Little Pirate Ranch" near Winfield, Kansas, which he had purchased with a down payment during his first year in the majors.

He was also allowed to sit in the dugout during games, making him manager Bill McKechnie's bench coach in all but name.

He was supported by Babe Adams, the only player on the 1909 world champions still on the team, as well as another veteran, Carson Bigbee.

Ownership struck fast and hard; on August 13, the Pirates released Adams and Bigbee, and waived Carey.