Mark Gubicza

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Mark Gubicza
Mark Gubicza Royals.jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1962-08-14) August 14, 1962 (age 59)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 6, 1984, for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
April 11, 1997, for the Anaheim Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record132–136
Earned run average3.96
Strikeouts1,367
Teams
  • Kansas City Royals (1984–1996)
  • Anaheim Angels (1997)
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× All-Star (1988, 1989)
  • World Series champion (1985)
  • Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

Mark Steven Gubicza (/ˈɡʊbɪzə/; born August 14, 1962) is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 14 major league seasons with the Kansas City Royals (1984–96) and California Angels (1997). He currently does color commentary for Los Angeles Angels games on Bally Sports West.[1]

Early life and career[]

Gubicza was born August 14, 1962, in Philadelphia. He is the son of Anthony Gubicza Jr., a former pitcher who pitched in the minor leagues for two years.[2] His grandfather, Anthony Gubicza Sr., was a Magyar Hungarian immigrant that settled in Walnutport, Pennsylvania.[3] Mark Gubicza attended the William Penn Charter School where he was teammates with Rubén Amaro Jr.[4][5] Though he grew up in Philadelphia, he was a Baltimore Orioles fan who idolized Jim Palmer.[6]

He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2nd round of the 1981 Amateur Draft, the 34th overall pick.[7] He began his professional baseball career at age 18 with the Royals Gold in the Gulf Coast League, where he went 8-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 56 innings. He played for Fort Myers in the Florida State Class A League in 1982 and missed most of the season due to injuries. In 1983, he was assigned to the Jacksonville Suns, the Royals AA team in the Southern League, managed by Gene Lamont. Gubicza was 14-12 with a 2.72 ERA, and 146 strikeouts in 196 innings.[8] He made his major league debut on April 6, 1984, against the Cleveland Indians at Royals Stadium. He pitched 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 1 run, and struck out 4.[9]

Career highlights[]

Gubicza was a member of Kansas City's 1984 American League Western Division winning team and as well as their 1985 World Series winning team. However, he didn't get a chance to pitch in the 1985 World Series as the Royals decided to go with a four-man starting rotation.[10] He was elected to American League All-Star Teams in 1988 and 1989.

Gubicza finished 3rd in voting for the 1988 American League Cy Young Award after posting a 20–8 win–loss record in 35 games (all as a starter), 8 complete games, 4 shutouts, 269+2⁄3 innings pitched, 237 hits allowed, 94 runs allowed (81 earned), 11 home runs allowed, 83 walks, 183 strikeouts, and a 2.70 ERA.[4]

He led the American League in games started in 1989 (36) and 1995 (33).[4]

Gubicza in 1991

Broadcasting[]

Gubicza has served as an MLB Analyst on Dodgers and Angels pre-game and post-game shows for Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket. In 2007, he was paired with José Mota on 50 Angels telecasts on Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket and KCOP.[11] He also co-hosted Angels in the Infield with Bill Macdonald. The Angels announced in 2008 that he would work roughly 75 games on television during that year's season. Gubizca was slated to work with Rory Markas on Angels broadcasts in 2010 before Markas's sudden death on January 4, 2010. On March 3, 2010, Victor Rojas was named as Markas' replacement. Gubicza appeared in 30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo: The Legend of Bo Jackson, which first aired on December 8, 2012.[12]

Coaching[]

In 2005 and 2006, Gubicza was the Head Baseball Coach at Chaminade High School in West Hills, California. One of the students he coached was Kevin Pillar, an outfielder who currently plays for the New York Mets.[13] Gubicza's son, Chad, attended Chaminade.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ "Los Angeles Angels Broadcasters". MLB.com.
  2. ^ "Mark Gubicza". Baseball Reference. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Anthony Gubicza in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957". Ancestry. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Mark Gubicza Stats". baseballreference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  5. ^ Silary, Ted (May 17, 2012). "Mellor reflects on 34 years as Penn Charter's baseball coach". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  6. ^ Gosselin, Rick (July 20, 1984). "A tall, gangling, power pitcher who grew up in..." UPI. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "2nd Round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "Mark Gubicza Minor League Stats". baseballreference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Box Score, April 6, 1984". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  10. ^ J. Brady McCollough. "A Royal Entrance". Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "Angels and FSN West add telecast team". MLB.com. February 14, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  12. ^ "30 for 30". IMDB. ESPN Films. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "Ex-pitchers now manage high school teams". ESPN. March 23, 2005. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "Here's a stunner: Suppan is headed to Chaminade". Los Angeles Times. August 9, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2015.

External links[]

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