Mark Grace
| Birthdate | 6/28/1964 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1988 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Cubs, Diamondbacks |
| Position | First Base |
Mark Grace recorded 1,754 hits during the 1990s, the most of any player; all other decade hit leaders of the 20th century except Pete Rose are in the Hall of Fame.
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Four-time Gold Glover Mark Grace finished his career with 2,445 hits and a .303 lifetime average
Four-time Gold Glover Mark Grace finished his career with 2,445 hits and a .303 lifetime average
Mark Grace had quite a career. The runner up in 1988 Rookie of the Year balloting, he went on to play 16 years at baseball’s highest level.
The sweet-swinging left-handed first baseman spent his first 13 big league seasons with the Chicago Cubs. He hit .300 or better in 9 of those campaigns, highlighted by a .331 mark in 1996.
Between 1992-1997 Grace earned four Gold Gloves and played in three All Star Games. His six-year run featured a .318 average and a .391 on-base percentage. Grace received votes in MVP balloting three times.
Before the start of the 2001 season, Grace signed a deal with the Diamondbacks. In his first year with Arizona, Grace helped his new club reach the World Series. Once there, Grace reached base 9 times in 19 at bats and smacked a three-run homer in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.
In deciding Game 7, the Diamondbacks clinched the Series in an unlikely manner. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Grace led off with his third hit of the game, a single to center off of Mariano Rivera. Arizona sent six men to the plate, handing the Hall of Fame closer his only loss in 96 postseason appearances.
Grace retired after the 2003 season. His career totals include 2,445 hits, 1,075 walks, 511 doubles, 1,179 runs scored and 1,146 RBI. Grace’s lifetime average stands at .303 and his career on-base percentage is a strong .383.
In the postseason Grace was even better. He hit .329 with a .417 on-base percentage in 25 games covering 94 plate appearances. Grace played into October twice each with the Cubs and D-Backs. His .515 lifetime batting average in the League Championship Series is among the highest for men who played in at last ten LCS games.
When first eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2009, Grace received 4.1% of the vote. With less than the required 5% to stay on the ballot, Grace was one-and-done.
In the collection is the first regular-issue Topps card of Mark Grace. The man with the most hits of the 1990s has adorned it with his signature.
Mark Grace had the most hits and doubles of any big leaguer during the 1990s
Mark Grace had the most hits and doubles of any big leaguer during the 1990s
Mark Grace hold the distinction of the 1990s most prolific hitter in terms of base hits and doubles. His 1,754 safeties and 364 two-base hits set the standard for the decade.
Over the ten-year span, Grace hit .310 with a .385 on-base percentage and a 122 OPS+. He also reached a milestone moment on August 2, 1999 when he recorded his 2,000th career hit.
Shown here is a ticket to that Cubs contest against the Expos at Wrigley Field. Grace went 2-for-4 with a double to up his average on the season to .326. Notice the first baseman’s signature along with the inscription, “2,000th hit”.
Among 20th-century decade hit leaders, only Grace and Pete Rose are outside of Cooperstown
Among 20th-century decade hit leaders, only Grace and Pete Rose are outside of Cooperstown
When Mark Grace led the 1990s in hits, he put himself in the company of the game’s all-time great. Other decade hit leaders include inner-circle Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, and Roberto Clemente.
For the 20th century, Grace is one of only three men to lead a decade in base hits and not earn a Cooperstown plaque. The hit king of the 1970s Pete Rose joins Grace on the outside looking in.
Shown here is a Western Union telegram from then-National League President Chub Feeney congratulating Rose on being named player/manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
Rose penned his autograph along the right side of the telegram. Interestingly, Feeney’s successor will be Bart Giamatti, the man who handed Rose his lifetime ban.
Like many of the hit king’s personal mementos, this one was put up for sale by Rose. Today it resides in the Cooperstown Expert collection.
HOF. Led the decade in hits and doubles. .995 fielding percentage.