| Mark Leiter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Leiter with theNew York Mets during spring training in 2001 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1963-04-13)April 13, 1963 (age 62) Joliet, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 24, 1990, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 7, 2001, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 65–73 |
| Earned run average | 4.57 |
| Strikeouts | 892 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Mark Edward Leiter (born April 13, 1963) is an American retired professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees,Detroit Tigers,California Angels,San Francisco Giants,Montreal Expos,Philadelphia Phillies,Seattle Mariners, andMilwaukee Brewers from 1990 to 1999 and in 2001.
Drafted by theBaltimore Orioles in 1983, Leiter missed the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons due to arotator cuff injury that required three surgeries. Released by the Orioles in 1988, he signed with the Yankees later that year and made his MLB debut in 1990. Leiter's younger brotherAl, sonMark Jr., and nephewJack have pitched in the major leagues.
Leiter was born inJoliet, Illinois, on April 13, 1963, to Alex and Maria Leiter.[1] His family moved to New Jersey shortly after he was born.[1] He grew up inBerkeley Township, New Jersey,[2] as one of seven children.[3] He was a fan of thePhiladelphia Phillies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB).[4]
Leiter attendedCentral Regional High School inBayville, New Jersey, where he played baseball as apitcher together with his brotherAl andJeff Musselman. He graduated in 1981. Leiter attendedConnors State College inWarner, Oklahoma, andRamapo College inMahwah, New Jersey.[1] While pitching for Connors State in 1983, he threw ano-hitter.[5]
TheBaltimore Orioles selected Leiter in the fourth round of the January 1983MLB draft.[6] Leiter injured his shoulder in the 1985 season after the Orioles transitioned him from astarting pitcher to arelief pitcher, which he attributed to needing to pitch more frequently.[7] He missed the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons with arotator cuff injury in his right shoulder.[8] He had two operations performed by Orioles doctors[7] and worked as a corrections officer at theOcean County Jail for four months in 1987.[7][9] Not wanting to end his baseball career, Leiter decided to have a third surgery,[10] which was performed byJames Andrews in November 1987.[8]
While Leiter rehabilitated from his third surgery, the Orioles released him in June 1988. He pitched in baseball camps and as asemi-professional before his brother Al, now with theNew York Yankees, secured a tryout for Mark. The Yankees signed him to a minor league contract in September.[11][12] He played in theminor leagues for theFort Lauderdale Yankees andColumbus Clippers in 1989.[13] He made his MLB debut with the Yankees on July 24, 1990. He remained with the Yankees for two weeks before he wasoptioned back to Columbus.[7] They promoted him back to the major leagues on September 10[14] and he finished the 1990 season with a 6.84earned run average (ERA) in26+1⁄3innings pitched in eight games for the Yankees.[15]
On March 19, 1991, the Yankees traded Leiter to theDetroit Tigers forTorey Lovullo.[16] He made the Tigers'Opening Day roster.[7] He had a 4.21 ERA in134+2⁄3 innings pitched for the Tigers in 1991[17] and a 4.18 ERA in 112 innings pitched in 1992.[18] Leiter missed the second half of the 1993 season with a recurrence of his shoulder injury. He finished the season with a 6–6win–loss record and a 4.73 ERA. He underwent a fourth arthroscopic surgery during the offseason.[19]
On March 15, 1994, the Tigers released Leiter during spring training as they wanted to prioritize their younger pitchers.[19] Days later, he signed as a free agent with theCalifornia Angels.[20] He had a 4.72 ERA in95+1⁄3 innings for the Angels.[21] After the season, he won theTony Conigliaro Award for overcoming the adversity of his son's death.[22]
Leiter signed as a free agent with theSan Francisco Giants before the 1995 season. In is first major league season as a full-time starting pitcher, Leiter had a 10–12 win–loss record and a 3.82 ERA. His sevencomplete games were the second-most in theNational League.[23] He andMark Carreon were the co-winners of theWillie Mac Award, honoring his spirit and leadership, in 1995.[24] Leiter was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Giants in 1996.[25] Leiter had a 4–10 record with a 5.19 ERA in 23 games.[26]
On July 30, 1996, the Giants traded Leiter to theMontreal Expos forKirk Rueter andTim Scott.[26] He had a 4–2 record and a 4.39 ERA with Montreal.[27] After the season, he became a free agent and signed a two-year contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies for $4.3 million, plus incentives.[10] Leiter had a 10–17 record with a 5.67 ERA in 1997. The Phillies used Leiter as a relief pitcher in 1998, and he recorded 23saves with a 3.55 ERA. At the end of the 1998 season, the Phillies exercised his option[4] and traded him to theSeattle Mariners forPaul Spoljaric.[28][29] Leiter missed the beginning of the regular season with shoulder troubles and went back on thedisabled list in May.[30] He missed the remainder of the season.[1]
On February 9, 2000, Leiter signed as a free agent with thePittsburgh Pirates. He refused an assignment to the minor leagues and the Pirates released him. Al, now pitching for theNew York Mets, encouraged the team to sign Mark and they offered him a non-roster invitation to spring training, which he accepted.[31] On March 26, the Mets traded Leiter to theColorado Rockies forBrian Rose.[32] Then on April 4, the Rockies traded Leiter,Mike DeJean, andElvis Peña to theMilwaukee Brewers forJuan Acevedo,Kane Davis, andJose Flores.[33] He had a 3.75 ERA in 36 innings pitched for the Brewers.[34] Leiter signed with theNewark Bears of theAtlantic League, anindependent baseball league, for the 2002 season.[35] He pitched to a 3.78 ERA in95+1⁄3 innings pitched for the Bears.[36]
Mark's older brother, Kurt, spent four seasons as a pitcher in the Orioles' minor-league organization (1982–1984, 1986). His younger brother,Al Leiter, was a major league pitcher from 1987 to 2005. His son,Mark Leiter Jr., has also pitched in MLB. His nephew,Jack Leiter, pitches in MLB for theTexas Rangers.[37]
In addition to Mark Jr, Mark and his wife, Allison, had a daughter, Kaley, and a son, Ryan.[3] In 1994, Ryan died ofspinal muscular atrophy when he was nine months old.[3][38] Mark and Allison started the Ryan Leiter Fund to raise funds for families of victims of the disease.[22]
Leiter owns a pitching and hitting clinic inToms River, New Jersey.[39]
Toms River players William Fleury, 12, Alex Civitello, 12, and Christian Wood, 12, listen to Mark Leiter, a former major league baseball player who grew up in Berkeley Township, on Tuesday during the Little League state championship banquet at the Berkeley Little League Complex in Bayville.
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