Smyrna times., 1924-11-05
VIC CLARK, ONE TINE POPULAR
DOVER BASEBALL PITCHER, DEAD
EXPIRES ON CONCORD PIKE
AS HE ALIGHTS FROM CAR
Added Fame to Dover Club in the
Days When Teams of Down State
Towns Had Local Players

Thomas Victor Clark, known to his
many friends as "Vic' Clark, who a
quarter of a century ago was a noted
baseball pitcher, died unexpectedly
from heart disease while automobiling
with a company of friends Tuesday
night.
Mr. Clark was motoring out the
Concord Pike and when near Perry's
Tavern he complained Of shOrtness
of breath, and asked the driver to
stop the car. He got out and col
lapsed near the car. His friends got
a passing mOtorist to go to Booths
Corner for DR.. Booth. When the
physician arrived a few minutes
later he pronounced Mr.. Clark dead.
Coroner Taylor removed the body to
Wilmington. Mr.. Clark lived at 83l
Washington street with his wife and
seven-year-old son. He was fifty
years old and was born in Dover. He
was apparently in his usual health up
until the time that he complained of
feeling i'll in the machine. He died
about 9.15 o'clock.
Mr.. Clark was a son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas S. Clark, of Dover. His
father died some years ago, but his
mother, Mrs. Clara Clark and one sis
ter Mrs. Clara Clark Massey, both of
Dover, susvive him. He was former
" associated with his father in the
realty business at Dover.
Mr.. Clark was rated as one of the
best baseball pitchers in the State
when a young man. From 1898 until
1896 Dover had an unusually fast in
dependent baseball team and the
pitching of Clark on the team at
tracted wide attention in baseball cir
cles. David W. Zearfoss, now en-
ployed by the Wilmington Gas Com
pany, Wilmington, was catcher or
the team. Mr.. ZearfOsS afterwards
Joined the St. Louis National League
team with which he played for several
years. 1t was ZearfOss who develop
ed Clark as a star twirler. Governor
William D. Denney, the Richardson's
of Dover and a number of other noted
independent baseball players playeC
on the Dover team with Clark anC
ZearfOss.
In 1895 Mr.. Clark had an offer t.
go with the Philadelphia National!
but did not accept it. He also had al
offer from Toronto in the old Easter
League and went there for a shOr
time but had some trouble with a sOr'
arm. In 1907 he pitched on fast IN
dependent team in Atlantic City an
in 1898 was with the late Jesse Fry
singers Chester, Pa, team. He spen
one year at Hill Preparatory SchOo
where he pitched on the school team
Mr.. Clark was also one of the bes
billiardiStS in the State and at on
. time held the pocket billiard cham
pionship of Delaware. He played sev
eral match games with late Farm
err Wilson, who also held the stat
pocket billiard championship for som
years.
After giving up baseball Mr.. Clar
went into the real estate bushes
with his father in Dover and after hi
fathers death conducted the bushes
himself for some years. About seve
or eight years ago he went TO WI
mington and for some time was
bond salesman.
Funeral was held from the home (
his sister, Mrs. Clara Massey on Kin
street, Dover, on Saturday aftemoC
. at two o'clock. Rev. Charles A. Wall
= er, pastor of the First Baptist Chur'
u had charge of the services. lnterme
was made at Lakeside cemetery.