36 Clay Schwartz

Clay Schwartz
  • Position:
    Catcher
  • Height:
    6-0
  • Weight:
    215
  • Bats:
    R
  • Hometown:
    Fond du Lac, WI
  • Throws:
    R
  • College:
    University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
  • Hall of Fame Induction Year:
    2012

Batting

SeasonTeamGPPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBHBPSOSFSHSBCSAVGOBP
1995Sheboygan A’s5018316424341102181183300100.2070.290
1996Sheboygan A’s45166141365060103913112111460.3550.446
1997Sheboygan A’s532091725356111144113222720400.3260.435
1998Sheboygan A’s4617213233376082222152621410.2800.433
1999Sheboygan A’s56213160485516063829232710900.3440.502
2000Sheboygan A’s5118614536387072417223120700.2620.414
2001Sheboygan A’s5018514817358032119153921600.2360.375
2002Sheboygan A’s562151743351904302883850000.2930.405
2003Sheboygan A’s56215166335114053130183201200.3070.463
2004Sheboygan A’s3512710223309042414101601200.2940.429
2005Sheboygan A’s113930351011721200100.1670.359
Total-50919101534339442981642892031543021554070.2880.419

Pitching

SeasonTeamGPGSCGIPHHRRERBBSOWLSERAIP for Calculation
1995Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
1996Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
1997Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
1998Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
1999Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2000Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2001Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2002Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2003Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2004Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
2005Sheboygan A’s000000000000000
Total-000000000000000

Clay Schwartz, A’s iron-man, rifle-armed catcher for 11 seasons and two championships has been inducted into the Sheboygan A’s Hall of Fame.

Schwartz, who played in 509 games, hit .288 with 99 doubles, 64 home runs and 289 runs batted in. He played critical roles in the 1997 and 2000 championship seasons.

He had pop in his bat, but also in his arm. Before hurting his arm in 2003, Schwartz recorded eight straight seasons of 20 or more assists from behind the plate.

Despite all his attributes, what he is truly remembered for is getting hit by pitches. After holding the NCAA record while at UW-Milwaukee, Schwartz was drilled 154 times, or nearly once every three games with the A’s. His license plate reads HBP and the contusions he collected helped him to a .418 career on base percentage.

Schwartz had many good years, but he enjoyed three particularly outstanding seasons. In 1996 he hit .355 with 16 extra base hits and 39 RBI; in 1999 he hit .344 with 22 extra base hits and 38 RBI, and in 1997 he hit .326 with 27 extra base hits and 41 RBI.

He was the A’s Most Valuable Player in 1999 and the club’s Most Valuable Defensive player six times. At one time or another he led the team in games played, plate appearances, home runs, slugging percentage, put outs, total chances, fielding percentage, and, of course, he was the perennial leader in hit by pitch.

Schwartz came to the A’s from Fond du Lac, via UW-Milwaukee. At Fond du Lac St. Mary Springs, he was all-conference in baseball, basketball and football; quarterbacked two state championship football teams, and was an all-state quarterback.

But it was his baseball ability that earned him his college scholarship at UW-Milwaukee. Schwartz finished his UW-M career with a .251 average with 17 home runs and 97 RBI in 487 at bats. His 68 career hit-by-pitches were an NCAA D-1 record when he graduated and is still a UW-M record.

Schwartz now resides in Oshkosh with his wife Andrea, children Logan, Tahlia and Cooper and operates a floor-covering business.