Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Mark Grace

When you think of the greatest hitters of the 1990s, Mark Grace might not come to mind. But make no mistake, the former Chicago Cubs star warrants noting.

Thinking about that decade in baseball history, you probably immediately think of the long ball heroes who were swatting dingers to the moon.  Players like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and former Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa.  It was the era of the home run that is referred to as, what we notoriously dubbed, “The Steroid Era.”

In the midst of this scandalous era, one beloved player opted for dugout cigarettes over performance-enhancing drugs and doubles over home runs.

Out of all the most popular, muscle-riddled superstars, none of them are known for having the most hits or doubles out of any player through the decade of the 1990s.  Those statistics belong to Mark Grace.

Grace’s simplistic approach at the plate of “just reacting to the ball… seeing it… hitting it,” produced 1,754 base hits and 364 doubles from 1990 to 1999 with one of the sweetest swings you will ever see.  When other players of the era were fueled by “juice,” Gracie was fueled only by booze, nicotine, his libido and the pure joy and love of the game.

Chicago Cubs: The epitome of a ballplayer

Throughout the following decade, Grace and the #17 on his back became as much of a staple at Wrigley as the green ivy that climbed and covered the red brick of the outfield wall.

Wrigley was a throwback stadium, a reminder of years past, and Grace was a throwback ballplayer.  His flashback appearance was complete with his knee-high blue stirrup socks, eye black marked across his face and sans batting gloves that connect the grip of flesh to wood.  He was superstitious just like the pastime heroes of the olden days, providing this infamous (and hilariously candid) “slump-busting” technique.  He played unselfishly and for his teammates.

While he never was a player who hit 20 home runs or knock in 100 runs in a single season, he did everything he had to do in order to raise the “W” flag high above that iconic Wrigley scoreboard.

During the decade, Grace collected four Gold Gloves and was named to the National League All-Star team three times (1993, 1995, 1997). Arguably, his best season came in 1995, when Grace hit .326 with a .395 OBP and hitting a league-high 51 two-baggers.

Chicago Cubs: The end of an era for all involved

The decade was not kind to the Cubs who were synonymous with losing as they only managed two winning seasons during those years despite Grace being a constant, flagship player.

While Grace always maintained his intentions of finishing his career in Chicago, his relationship with the club became strained by the end of the 2000 season.

Legend has it, during batting practice on an August day at Wrigley Field in 2000 (the Cubs, of course, mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by the end of May), Grace retreated back to the dugout after taking his reps.  He sat beside retired Cubs outfielder Bob Dernier and, just as he was known to do, lit up a cigarette and took a long, deep drag.

He took a minute, in thought, watching the smoke billow and dance in the warm summer wind around the dugout before letting out a sigh before glancing back at Dernier.  “You know, I never smoke these things in the offseason.  That’s what 13 years of being on the Cubs has done to me.”

The front office, tired of his smoking habits and, more importantly, his constant bickering with superstar slugger Sammy Sosa, decided not to re-sign Grace.  He became a free agent.

Chicago Cubs: Life after Wrigley and the North Side

Grace’s tenure with the Chicago Cubs officially came to an end in December of 2000 when he signed a two-year, six million dollar contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  He continued to wear #17 on the back of his jersey but, for the first time, not as a member of the Cubs.

The following season, Arizona won the 2001 World Series against the dynastic New York Yankees.  Playing in the first World Series of his long, storied career, he had several key moments including a pivotal Game 4 home run at Yankee Stadium.  He was also responsible for starting Arizona’s epic ninth-inning comeback in Game 7 when he hit a leadoff single against Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.  He was lifted for a pinch runner but that became the tying run of the game.

Grace saw a fall in production the following seasons but was still having fun playing the game he loved so much.  On Sept. 2, 2002, he made his first and only pitching appearance of his career.  Doing his best impression of reliever, teammate and staredown extraordinaire Mike Fetters, Grace retired the first two batters of the inning before then rookie (and future Grandpa Cub) David Ross hit his first career home run.

After 16 years in the majors, Grace eventually retired following the 2003 season.

Chicago Cubs: An”Amazing” legacy for Gracie

Though we see another fan favorite Cub in Kris Bryant donning the #17 nowadays, it’s hard for Cubs fans to see that and not be reminded of the memories and footprints left behind by Mark Grace.  For fans who were able to watch Grace play, he was a joy to watch and will always be cherished by a nation of Cubs fans.

He was one of the greatest ballplayers of the 1990s.  He joins Pete Rose as the only two players in Major League Baseball history to lead a decade in hits and not be in the Hall of Fame.

Grace eventually found another career post-baseball as a broadcaster for the Diamondbacks.  In 2006, during a doubleheader at Wrigley against Arizona, Grace led the screaming Cubs fans in the singing of the seventh inning stretch.

He was welcomed back with open arms and tremendous ovations with a plethora of “I love you, Gracie!” being shouted every few minutes. During that brief moment, his swan song, if you will, Mark Grace was a Cub again.

In 2007, after years of purgatory since leaving the franchise, Grace attended the annual Cubs Convention, telling fans that, “It’s really great to come home.”