 After graduating from high school , Clark was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent . He was scouted while in high school , and was invited to a tryout in Newark , New Jersey , where he was signed to a minor league deal . Clark spent his first year in their farm system with the Easton Yankees of the Eastern Shore League and the Amsterdam <unk> of the Canadian – American League . He hit .325 for the Yankees in 70 games , and .368 in 20 games for the <unk> . In 1942 , he was promoted to the Norfolk Tars of the Piedmont League , where he spent the season as the team 's second baseman and played with future major league teammate Vic Raschi . In 129 games with the team , he hit .328 with 34 doubles . 
