Mark Gardner is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on March 1, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, and attended Clovis High School in Clovis, California. Gardner was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the eighth round of the 1985 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1988.
Gardner spent the majority of his career with the Expos, playing for them from 1988 to 1995. During his time with the team, he was primarily used as a starting pitcher and had a record of 64-67 with a 4.42 ERA. He had his best season in 1991 when he went 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA and was named the Expos' Pitcher of the Year.
In 1996, Gardner signed with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent. He spent six seasons with the team, pitching both as a starter and a reliever. He had a record of 35-30 with a 4.29 ERA during his time with the Giants. Gardner was part of the Giants' pitching staff that helped the team win the National League West division in 1997 and 2000.
Gardner finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing for them in 2001. He appeared in 22 games for the team, starting 10 of them, and had a record of 3-6 with a 5.49 ERA. He retired from baseball at the end of the season.
Overall, Gardner had a career record of 99-93 with a 4.56 ERA. He appeared in 345 games, starting 227 of them, and pitched a total of 1,618 innings. He struck out 1,006 batters and walked 622.
After retiring from baseball, Gardner worked as a pitching coach for several teams, including the Giants, Kansas City Royals, and Miami Marlins. He also served as a special assistant to the general manager for the Giants.
Gardner was known for his durability and versatility as a pitcher. He was able to pitch both as a starter and a reliever and was often used in long relief situations. He was also known for his ability to keep the ball in the park, as he gave up only 1.1 home runs per nine innings during his career.
In conclusion, Mark Gardner had a successful career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, playing for several teams over the course of his career. He was known for his durability, versatility, and ability to keep the ball in the park. After retiring from baseball, he continued to work in the sport as a pitching coach and special assistant to the general manager.
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