Mark Grace

Mark Grace is most famously known for his time playing as first basemen for the Chicago Cubs, which consisted of twelve years. However, he is most recently known for his time playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, from 2001 until his retirement in 2003. Baseball was always a big part of Grace’s life. Born in 1964 in North Carolina, Grace later moved to California where he pursued both baseball and basketball throughout high school. Excelling in both, he chose to play baseball for San Diego State University and was selected out of college in the 1985 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Throughout his twelve seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Grace earned four Gold Glove Awards and was a three-time All-Star. He did not win a World Series champion until he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, after he was signed with a $6 million two-year contract. Grace retired from the MLB in 2003 with a batting average of .303 and a total of 173 home runs. Ensuing retirement, he chose to stay close to the game he loved by involving himself in a career with broadcasting, where he served as a television color commentator for the Diamondbacks and for Fox Saturday Baseball for many years.