Mark Grace

Mark Grace: Cubs legend, three-time All-Star, and 2001 World Series champion.

Mark Eugene Grace (born June 28, 1964) is an American former professional baseball first baseman, who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. He was named an All-Star three times during his career.

Quick Facts

Position: First baseman
Bats: Left
Born: 28 June 1964
Birthplace: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: May 2
Debut year: 1988
Debut team: Chicago Cubs

Lore & Background

Grace was drafted by the Cubs in the 1985 draft. After spending three years in the minor leagues, he became the starting first baseman of the team in the 1988 season, and he batted .296 in 134 games of his first season to finish second in Rookie of the Year voting. He had his first of nine seasons hitting .300 the following year and soon became a reliable hitting presence for the Cubs. He earned three Gold Glove awards in a four-year span from 1992 to 1995 and led the NL in doubles in 1995 with 51.

In the decade of the 1990s, he collected 1,754 hits, more than any other player in that same time. He signed with the Diamondbacks as a free agent prior to the 2001 season. In the 2001 postseason, only his third appearance as a player, Grace batted .286 and played an integral part of the run to the World Series, which saw him hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the 9th inning in Game 7, where Arizona eventually rallied to win the championship. He played two further seasons with the team before retiring in 2003. The Cubs inducted him into their team Hall of Fame in 2023.

Reader's Guide

Grace batted and threw left-handed; he wore jersey number 28 and 17 during his rookie season of 1988. He kept number 17 for the remainder of his career. After his playing career ended, he became a television commentator.