Mark Gardner (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Mark Allan Gardner (born March 4, 1962 in Los Angeles
, California
) is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
and current bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants
.
, Kansas City Royals
, Florida Marlins
, and the Giants. In his career, Gardner pitched in 345 games, posting a record of 99-93 and a 4.56 ERA
. He appeared in 275 of his 345 career games as a starter
. Gardner was also used as a long reliever
and spot starter during the final years of his career. On July 26, 1991, Gardner no hit the Dodgers for nine innings but gave up a hit in the top of the 10th.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1991/B07260LAN1991.htm
Gardner played the last six seasons of his career with the Giants. He shared the 2001 Willie Mac Award
with Benito Santiago
, which recognized each of their spirit and leadership.
and California State University, Fresno
, where he met his wife, Lori Gardner, an All-American softball pitcher. He and Lori have 2 sons. Lori Gardner struggled with liver cancer for several years during her husband's tenure with the Giants before dying from the disease in 2003. The Gardner family remains active in the California Organ Donor Network.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a former pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and current bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Playing career
Gardner pitched in the Major Leagues from to for the Montreal ExposWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, and the Giants. In his career, Gardner pitched in 345 games, posting a record of 99-93 and a 4.56 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He appeared in 275 of his 345 career games as a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. Gardner was also used as a long reliever
Long reliever
A Long reliever is a type of relief pitcher in baseball.Long relievers traditionally enter early in a game when the starting pitcher cannot continue, whether due to ineffective pitching, lack of endurance, rain delays, injury, or ejection...
and spot starter during the final years of his career. On July 26, 1991, Gardner no hit the Dodgers for nine innings but gave up a hit in the top of the 10th.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1991/B07260LAN1991.htm
Gardner played the last six seasons of his career with the Giants. He shared the 2001 Willie Mac Award
Willie Mac Award
The Willie Mac Award is named in honor of Willie McCovey. It has been presented annually since 1980. It is awarded to the player on the San Francisco Giants who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership consistently shown by McCovey throughout his long career, voted upon by the players and...
with Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for twenty seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the San Diego Padres...
, which recognized each of their spirit and leadership.
Coaching career
One season after retiring, Gardner became the Giants' bullpen coach in . He is now in his seventh season in the position.Personal
Gardner attended Clovis High School in Clovis, CaliforniaClovis, California
Clovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
and California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
, where he met his wife, Lori Gardner, an All-American softball pitcher. He and Lori have 2 sons. Lori Gardner struggled with liver cancer for several years during her husband's tenure with the Giants before dying from the disease in 2003. The Gardner family remains active in the California Organ Donor Network.