I know it's not in the least bit surprising, but still I think Mark Grace has more class and humility than some teams combined. When I first decided he was my favorite baseball player, most of that had to do with the cuteness factor (OK, I can be sorta shallow that way), but as the seasons accumulated, I found even more reasons to like the guy. Even though he hardly played this season, he still retires above .300 lifetime, and with the distinction of having the most hits and the most doubles throughout the 90s. Plus who can forget his inning of relief for the D-backs? Gracie, you may soon be gone from the game, but you won't be forgotten.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1624378

Nice column paying tribute to a classy guy who clearly got the most out of his ability and always looked like he was having fun playing the game.

Mark Grace was gorgeous when he was young. But, for me, the effects of him smoking, too much sun, an awful goatee and a really bad haircut kind of took the luster off of my, er, lust in later years.

What a hitter though, and he was a superb first baseman, very agile and quick.

I'm glad he got his WS ring with AZ, but it would have been nice, after all the loyalty he showed to the Cubs, if he could have made the playoffs with them.

[ September 28, 2003, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

I agree with you on that one, Jim Allen. I was beginning to think that Gracie was the exception to the rule that every baseball player had to play for multiple teams -- 4, 5, 8, whatever -- during their career. Needless to say I was disappointed that the Cubs didn't make much of an effort to keep him. Still, he made the playoffs with the Cubs in 1989 and 1998, and of course getting the World Series ring with the D-backs. I think what I'll miss most is watching the games on WGN when he was a Cub and the opposing team had a runner on first, because he bent completely over at the waist and they would stick a camera right there. The Mark Grace Butt Cam shot! He has a good sense of humor, too, and often seemed to come up with some funny quotes.

He was gorgeous when he was young, but in a lot of ways, he's BEAUTIFUL where it counts: As a human being.

I also wish that he could have made the playoffs with the Cubbies this year after his loyalty toward that organization for 13 seasons. He will be sorely missed.