Mark Davis (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Mark William Davis is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. From 1980 through 1997, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
(1980–81, 1993), San Francisco Giants
(1983–1987), San Diego Padres
(1987–1989, 1993–1994), Kansas City Royals
(1990–92), Atlanta Braves
(1992) and Milwaukee Brewers
(1997). Davis batted and threw left-handed. He is best known for his years as the Padres' closer
. He was currently the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Kansas City Royals
organization, but stepped aside after the 2011 season and will coach a single short-season affiliate in 2012.
In , Davis became the Padres' closer, earning 28 saves
and 44 in , appearing in the All-Star Game
in both seasons. He was a Cy Young Award
winner in 1989, becoming only the fourth closer so honored in Award history. No closer would win the NL Cy Young again until Éric Gagné
in 2003.
Davis signed as a free agent
with the Kansas City Royals before the season. He pitched ineffectively early in the season and subsequently lost the closer role to Jeff Montgomery. After a brief stint for the Atlanta Braves in , again he pitched with the Phillies and Padres from -94
. After going out for two years, he returned to pitch until retiring with the Milwaukee Brewers in . He never came close to matching his accomplishments for San Diego, earning only eleven saves over the last eight seasons of his career.
In a 15-season career, Davis posted a 51-84 record with a 4.17 ERA
and 96 saves in 624 games pitched
.
. In October 2010, he was promoted by the Kansas City Royals
to Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
, Arizona
with Candy, his wife. They have four children (two sons and two daughters).
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
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...
. From 1980 through 1997, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1980–81, 1993), 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....
(1983–1987), San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1987–1989, 1993–1994), 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...
(1990–92), Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1992) and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1997). Davis batted and threw left-handed. He is best known for his years as the Padres' closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. He was currently the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the 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...
organization, but stepped aside after the 2011 season and will coach a single short-season affiliate in 2012.
Career
Davis began his career in with the Philadelphia Phillies, and spent parts of five seasons with the San Francisco Giants, but did not establish himself as a top reliever until being traded to San Diego during the midseason.In , Davis became the Padres' closer, earning 28 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
and 44 in , appearing in the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in both seasons. He was a Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner in 1989, becoming only the fourth closer so honored in Award history. No closer would win the NL Cy Young again until Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
in 2003.
Davis signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Kansas City Royals before the season. He pitched ineffectively early in the season and subsequently lost the closer role to Jeff Montgomery. After a brief stint for the Atlanta Braves in , again he pitched with the Phillies and Padres from -94
1994 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:As a result of a players' strike, the MLB season ends prematurely on August 11, 1994. No postseason is played...
. After going out for two years, he returned to pitch until retiring with the Milwaukee Brewers in . He never came close to matching his accomplishments for San Diego, earning only eleven saves over the last eight seasons of his career.
In a 15-season career, Davis posted a 51-84 record with a 4.17 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...
and 96 saves in 624 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
.
After retirement
From 2006 to 2010, Davis was the pitching coach for the Arizona League RoyalsArizona League Royals
The Arizona League Royals are a minor league baseball team in Surprise, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League and have been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2003. The Royals play home games at Surprise Stadium. Opened in 2002, Surprise Stadium seats 10,500...
. In October 2010, he was promoted by the 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...
to Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
Personal
Davis currently lives in ScottsdaleScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with Candy, his wife. They have four children (two sons and two daughters).