Mark Grace - Biography

Last Editor: suemmiller				Mark Grace Biography -   Name : Mark Grace Profession : Baseball Player Birth Details : born June 28, 1964 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Birth name : Mark Eugene Grace Height : 6' 2" (1.88 m) Nickname : Gracie Personal quotes : "I'm not good enough to play for the Chicago Cubs, but I'm good enough to play for the World Champions." -- moments after helping the Arizona Spouse : Tonya Avila (5 January 2002 - present) 2 children Michelle Grace (1988 - 1993) (divorced)

Mark Grace Trivia -

3-time gold Glover Batted .536 in the 1989 NLCS He played in 2 playoffs with the Cubs, 89 and 98, and 2001 with Arizona Has a son, Jackson (born 11 November 2000) Won National League Gold Glove Award at First Base 4 times (1992-93 and 1995-96). Hit 11 for 17 (.647 Batting Average), 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 Home Run, 8 RBI, 4 Walks and 1 Stolen Base in 1989 National League Championship Series. First Baseman for Chicago Cubs (1988-2000) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2001-2003). Member of 1989 National League Eastern Division Champion Chicago Cubs team. Member of 2001 World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks team. Member of 2002 National League Western Division Champion Arizona Diamondbacks team. Named to 3 National League All Star Teams (1993, 1995 and 1997). Led National League in At Bats (619) in 1991. Led National League in Doubles (51) in 1995. Notable career statistics: 2,445 Hits (93rd All Time), 511 Doubles (35th All Time), 1,075 Walks (70th All Time) and 3,554 Times on Base (75th All Time). Ex-husband of Michelle Grace, whose second husband, Ray Liotta, played baseball player "Shoeless" Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989). Son Preston born in October 2002 Named to Baseball Digest magazine's 1988 Rookie All-Star Team. Made major league debut on 2 May 1988.

Mark Grace Detailed Biography -

Mark Eugene Grace (born June 28, 1964 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was a professional Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. His defensive position was first base, he batted left handed and wore jersey number 17. After playing baseball for San Diego State University, Grace was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985. He spent three years playing in the Cubs farm system before making his major league debut May 2, 1988. Mark Grace was never a flashy power hitter, and was often overlooked on Cubs teams that included Sammy Sosa, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg. However, Grace was a consistent, steady hitter, compiling almost 2,500 hits and more than 500 doubles during his 16-year career. He also had a career on-base percentage of .383 and collected four Gold Glove Awards. He holds the distinction of collecting the most base hits (1,754) and doubles (364) in the decade of the 1990s. In 2000, Mark Grace and the Chicago Cubs management had a falling out and the Cubs decided not to renew his contract. While he was a fan favorite, he and star right fielder Sosa feuded, and some in the front office resented Grace's pack-a-day smoking habit and his hijinks while enjoying Chicago's nightlife. Young pubcrawlers in Chicago still reference the phrase "slumpbuster," a phrase coined by Grace. Grace befriended young pitchers Kyle Farnsworth and Kerry Wood in the late 1990s, and some observers believe Grace's tutelage has helped feed Farnsworth's affinity for the nightlife. Upon leaving Chicago, the Diamondbacks proceeded to sign him, where he played for three more seasons, including helping the Diamondbacks to a World Series victory in 2001. On September 26, 2003, Mark Grace announced his retirement from baseball. He continues his involvement in the game as a television color commentator for the Diamondbacks, broadcasting games with partner Thom Brennaman. Mark has stated a desire to coach a major league team in the future. He was considered for the Diamondbacks' managerial position following the 2004 season, but the Diamondbacks hired Bob Melvin instead. Mark Grace resides in Paradise Valley, Arizona with wife Tanya and sons Jackson Gene and Preston Torre.