Mark
"Pizza" Grater had an exceptional senior year at Monaca
in 1981-1982. He was the point guard on the Indians’ state
championship basketball team and was
selected Monaca’s baseball MVP. In his second year with the Community
College of Beaver County
Titans, Mark’s pitching prowess earned him junior college All
American honors, which brought a scholarship to Florida
International University, where Mark began to get attention from pro
scouts. He signed with St Louis in 1986 in the 24th round and made
an immediate impact, being named Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year
in the National League. Mark had an exceptional season in 1989:
playing for St Petersburg he led the Florida State league with 32
saves and earned another Rolaids award. In 1991 he set a Louisville
Redbirds record for having the lowest reliever earned run average at
2.02. He also had 12 saves after being switched to a closer midway
through the season. Mark realized his dream of playing in the big
leagues in 1991, pitching on the St Louis Cardinals’ staff for three
weeks with and not giving up an earned run. Mark was a closer at
Louisville in 1992, finishing with 24 saves and winning his third
Rolaids award. Mark was in the Detroit chain in 1993 and was called
up by the Tigers for a brief stint before he retired after the 1995
season. The Cardinals singed Mark as a pitching coach in their
system in 1997.
Mark
"Pizza" Grater had an exceptional senior year at Monaca
in 1981-1982. He was the point guard on the Indians’ state
championship basketball team and was
selected Monaca’s baseball MVP. In his second year with the Community
College of Beaver County
Titans, Mark’s pitching prowess earned him junior college All
American honors, which brought a scholarship to Florida
International University, where Mark began to get attention from pro
scouts. He signed with St Louis in 1986 in the 24th round and made
an immediate impact, being named Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year
in the National League. Mark had an exceptional season in 1989:
playing for St Petersburg he led the Florida State league with 32
saves and earned another Rolaids award. In 1991 he set a Louisville
Redbirds record for having the lowest reliever earned run average at
2.02. He also had 12 saves after being switched to a closer midway
through the season. Mark realized his dream of playing in the big
leagues in 1991, pitching on the St Louis Cardinals’ staff for three
weeks with and not giving up an earned run. Mark was a closer at
Louisville in 1992, finishing with 24 saves and winning his third
Rolaids award. Mark was in the Detroit chain in 1993 and was called
up by the Tigers for a brief stint before he retired after the 1995
season. The Cardinals singed Mark as a pitching coach in their
system in 1997.