OVERLAND PARK, Kansas | For the second consecutive year, Jackson State will have an inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as Dave Clark was named as one of 21 standouts selected for the Class of 2026.

Clark made the journey from a determined young athlete to a standout collegiate performer. His career began with humble beginnings but quickly evolved into one of distinction, particularly during his time at Jackson State University.

Arriving on campus in the fall of 1980, he made the most of his opportunity by developing into one of the most dynamic players in program history. By his sophomore season in 1982, Clark had emerged as a national talent, batting .363 while earning The Sporting News All-America honors. That same season, he helped lead Jackson State to Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a historic milestone as the first HBCU program to qualify for an NCAA Division I Regional.

Clark elevated his performance even further in 1983, delivering a dominant junior campaign in which he batted .378 with 13 home runs. His outstanding play earned him SWAC Most Valuable Player honors. During both his sophomore and junior seasons, Clark was named team MVP. His exceptional collegiate career led to selection in the first round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland organization, where he was chosen 11th overall. Clark made his major league debut in 1986 and went on to enjoy a 13-year professional career, playing for six organizations. Clark's contributions to baseball, particularly his impact at Jackson State, have been formally recognized with his induction into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2002. His legacy stands as a testament to perseverance and excellence, inspiring future generations of players from historically Black colleges and universities.

The 19th induction class will be honored at the 2027 Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on February 11, 2027, in Overland Park, Kansas, the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. 

To be eligible for the College Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, players must be out of college for 15 years and have completed one year of competition at a two-year institution in the CCCAA, NJCAA or a four-year NCAA (Division I, II or III) or NAIA institution. Ballot-eligible coaches must be retired for two years or be active and no less than 75 years old. Each year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 196 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction.

The 2026 class includes 16 former players, including 2008 Dick Howser Trophy, Brooks Wallace Award and Golden Spikes recipient Buster Posey, who played at Florida State. Posey is also the namesake of the CBF affiliated Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, presented by Hasty Awards. The class also features Major League Baseball (MLB) stars Barry Bonds (Arizona State), Jeff Brantley (Mississippi State), Marquis Grissom (Florida A&M) and Dave Stegman (Arizona).

Additional Hall of Fame player selections include Earl Bass (South Carolina), Clark (Jackson State), Bruce Gardner (USC), Bobby Jones (Fresno State), Bobby Layne (Texas), Scott Livingstone (Texas A&M), David McCarty (Stanford), Lloyd Peever (Seminole State College / LSU), Mike Smith (Indiana), Huston Street (Texas) and Brent Strom (USC). 

Coaches Danny Hall (Kent State and Georgia Tech) and Hal Smeltzly (Florida Southern), join longtime umpires Gus Rodriguez and Tony Walsh as well as Jim Darby, a special contributor to college baseball, in the class. Bass, Gardner, Layne, McCarty and Smeltzly will be honored posthumously.

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