Will Clark
A fierce left-handed hitter known as 'Will the Thrill,' whose sweet swing and competitive fire made him the heart of the San Francisco Giants for nearly a decade.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Will Clark arrived in the majors with a bang, smashing a home run off Nolan Ryan in his very first at-bat—a statement of intent for a player defined by his pure, picturesque swing and unyielding intensity. For the San Francisco Giants, he wasn't just a first baseman; he was an identity, a cornerstone who combined batting average power with Gold Glove-caliber defense. The Mississippi native played with a trademark scowl, a reflection of his deep desire to win that endeared him to fans and intimidated opponents. While his peak years were in San Francisco, where he was a six-time All-Star, he remained a productive force later with Texas, Baltimore, and St. Louis. Clark’s career is remembered for its aesthetic perfection at the plate and the palpable sense that, with the game on the line, you wanted 'the Thrill' in the batter's box.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Will was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Will Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Will's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Gold Glove Award and finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1991 with the San Francisco Giants.
- Was a six-time MLB All-Star, representing the Giants and the Texas Rangers.
- Hit a home run in his first major league at-bat off Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1986.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'Will the Thrill,' was often shortened by fans and media to simply 'The Thrill.'
In college at Mississippi State, he was part of a legendary hitting duo with Rafael Palmeiro.
He was known for using a unique, heavily taped batting grip called the 'Cobra' grip.
“I wanted to be the guy they didn't want to pitch to.”
