Mark Leiter

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mark Leiter

|image=MLeiter NYM (cropped).jpg

|caption= Leiter with the New York Mets during spring training in 2001

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1963|4|13}}

|birth_place=Joliet, Illinois, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 24

|debutyear=1990

|debutteam=New York Yankees

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 7

|finalyear=2001

|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=65–73

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.57

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=892

|teams=

New York Yankees ({{mlby|1990}})
Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1991}}–{{mlby|1993}})
California Angels ({{mlby|1994}})
San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|1996}})
Montreal Expos ({{mlby|1996}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|1998}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|1999}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2001}})

}}

Mark Edward Leiter (born April 13, 1963) is an American retired professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers from 1990 to 1999 and in 2001.

Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1983, Leiter missed the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons due to a rotator 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 brother Al, son Mark Jr., and nephew Jack have pitched in the major leagues.

Early life and career

Leiter was born in Joliet, Illinois, on April 13, 1963, to Alex and Maria Leiter. His family moved to New Jersey shortly after he was born. He grew up in Berkeley Township, New Jersey,{{cite web|last=Edelson|first=Stephen|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-profile-of-mark-leiter/164674622/ |title=Learning to cherish their Time|work=Asbury Park Press|date=July 23, 2014|page=C8|accessdate=February 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|quote=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.}} as one of seven children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-its-brotherl/164796908/|title=It's brotherly love from coast to coast|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=March 3, 1996|pages=35|via=newspapers.com}} He was a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Leiter attended Central Regional High School in Bayville, New Jersey, where he played baseball as a pitcher together with his brother Al and Jeff Musselman. He graduated in 1981. Leiter attended Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma, and Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Mark-Leiter/|title=Mark Leiter |first=Clayton |last=Trutor|work=Society for American Baseball Research|accessdate=February 6, 2025}} While pitching for Connors State in 1983, he threw a no-hitter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-connors-leiter-fires-no-hit/164883434/|title=Connors' Leiter Fires No-Hitter|work=Tulsa World|date=February 27, 1983|pages=62|via=newspapers.com}}

Professional career

The Baltimore Orioles selected Leiter in the fourth round of the January 1983 MLB draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-baseball-winter-draft/164883593/|title=Baseball Winter Draft List: Oriole Selections|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=January 12, 1983|pages=24|via=newspapers.com}} Leiter injured his shoulder in the 1985 season after the Orioles transitioned him from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher, which he attributed to needing to pitch more frequently.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-leiter-gives/164684875/|title=Leiter gives Tigers shoulder to lean on|date=September 4, 1991|pages=21|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He missed the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons with a rotator cuff injury in his right shoulder.{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/columnists/stephen-edelson/2014/07/22/new-jersey-little-league/13029469/|title=Little League: Leiter reminds young athletes to cherish their time in tournament|first=Stephen|last=Edelson|work=Asbury Park Press|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He had two operations performed by Orioles doctors and worked as a corrections officer at the Ocean County Jail for four months in 1987.{{Cite magazine|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730200137/https://www.si.com/vault/1991/09/23/106783131/baseball|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1991/09/23/106783131/baseball|title=Baseball | Vault|first=Tim|last=Kurkjian|authorlink=Tim Kurkjian|date=September 23, 1991|archivedate=July 30, 2019|magazine=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Not wanting to end his baseball career, Leiter decided to have a third surgery,{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-jersey-boy-leiter-prefe/164883968/|title=Jersey boy Leiter prefers baseball to prison|date=December 13, 1996|pages=51|work=The Morning Call|via=newspapers.com}} which was performed by James Andrews in November 1987.

While Leiter rehabilitated from his third surgery, the Orioles released him in June 1988. He pitched in baseball camps and as a semi-professional before his brother Al, now with the New York Yankees, secured a tryout for Mark. The Yankees signed him to a minor league contract in September.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-rotator-cuff-cant-cuff-yanks/164685095/|title=Rotator cuff can't cuff Yanks' Mark Leiter|work=New York Daily News|date=February 21, 1990|pages=464|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-like-his-brother-mark-l/164608676/|title=Like his brother, Mark Leiter is still in there – pitching|work=The Star-Ledger|date=June 28, 1989|pages=53|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He played in the minor leagues for the Fort Lauderdale Yankees and Columbus Clippers in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/01/sports/baseball-amid-turmoil-yanks-continue-their-surge.html|title=Baseball; Amid Turmoil, Yanks Continue Their Surge|first=Michael|last=Martinez|date=August 1, 1990|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He made his MLB debut with the Yankees on July 24, 1990. He remained with the Yankees for two weeks before he was optioned back to Columbus. They promoted him back to the major leagues on September 10{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-yankees-add-to/164772730/|title=Yankees add to roster|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=September 10, 1990|pages=38|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} and he finished the 1990 season with a 6.84 earned run average (ERA) in {{frac|26|1|3}} innings pitched in eight games for the Yankees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1990.shtml|title=1990 New York Yankees Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}}

On March 19, 1991, the Yankees traded Leiter to the Detroit Tigers for Torey Lovullo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1991/03/20/yankees-yanks-trade-leiter-for-tigers-lovullo/|title=YANKEES YANKS TRADE LEITER FOR TIGERS' LOVULLO|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|date=March 20, 1991|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He made the Tigers' Opening Day roster. He had a 4.21 ERA in {{frac|134|2|3}} innings pitched for the Tigers in 1991{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1991.shtml|title=1991 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} and a 4.18 ERA in 112 innings pitched in 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1992.shtml|title=1992 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Leiter missed the second half of the 1993 season with a recurrence of his shoulder injury. He finished the season with a 6–6 win-loss record and a 4.73 ERA. He underwent a fourth arthroscopic surgery during the offseason.

On March 15, 1994, the Tigers released Leiter during spring training as they wanted to prioritize their younger pitchers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-strictly-business/92323344/|title=Strictly business: Tigers waive veteran pitchers Leiter, Bolton|date=March 16, 1994|pages=17|work=Battle Creek Enquirer|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Days later, he signed as a free agent with the California Angels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-haven-tribune-angels-pick-up-mark/164774378/|title=Angels pick up Mark Leiter as possible starter|date=March 21, 1994|pages=10|via=newspapers.com|work=Grand Haven Tribune|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He had a 4.72 ERA in {{frac|95|1|3}} innings for the Angels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CAL/1994.shtml|title=1994 California Angels Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} After the season, he won the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming the adversity of his son's death.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-mark-leiter-to/164700747/|title=Mark Leiter to be given Tony Conigliaro Award|work=The Brattleboro Reformer|date=December 2, 1994|pages=14|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}}

Leiter signed as a free agent with the San 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 seven complete games were the second-most in the National League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-mark-leiter-press-spo/164778961/|title=Mark Leiter: Press Sportsman of the Year|work=Asbury Park Press|date=December 31, 1995|pages=91|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He and Mark Carreon were the co-winners of the Willie Mac Award, honoring his spirit and leadership, in 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-giants-beat/164884016/|title=Giants Beat|first=Larry|last=Stone|date=September 25, 1995|pages=47|work=The San Francisco Examiner|via=newspapers.com}} Leiter was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Giants in 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-giants-baker-sa/164675562/|title=Giants' Baker saw potential in Leiter|date=April 8, 1997|pages=58|work=Philadelphia Daily News|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Leiter had a 4–10 record with a 5.19 ERA in 23 games.

On July 30, 1996, the Giants traded Leiter to the Montreal Expos for Kirk Rueter and Tim Scott.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/30/Expos-get-Mark-Leiter-for-Scott-Rueter/3410838699200/|title=Expos get Mark Leiter for Scott, Rueter |work=United Press International|date=July 30, 1996|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He had a 4–2 record and a 4.39 ERA with Montreal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-phillies-hit-the/164780951/|title=Phillies hit their Marks|date=December 12, 1996|pages=85|via=newspapers.com|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} After the season, he became a free agent and signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for $4.3 million, plus incentives. 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 23 saves with a 3.55 ERA. At the end of the 1998 season, the Phillies exercised his option{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-alumni-feature-mark-leiter-sr-and-mark-leiter-jr-grew-up-as-philadelphia-phillies-fans/c-63606778|title=Leiters relish connection with Phillies|date=November 1, 2013|website=MLB.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} and traded him to the Seattle Mariners for Paul Spoljaric.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/11/10/phillies-mariners-swap-relievers/|title=PHILLIES, MARINERS SWAP RELIEVERS|first=Tribune News|last=Services|website=Chicago Tribune |date=November 10, 1998|accessdate=February 3, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/phillies-ship-leiter-to-seattle/|title=Phillies Ship Leiter To Seattle |work=CBS News|date=November 10, 1998|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Leiter missed the beginning of the regular season with shoulder troubles and went back on the disabled list in May.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-leiter-back-on-dl-weav/164791739/|title=Leiter back on DL, Weaver back up|date=May 3, 1999|pages=26|work=The Daily Herald|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He missed the remainder of the season.

On February 9, 2000, Leiter signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He refused an assignment to the minor leagues and the Pirates released him. Al, now pitching for the New York Mets, encouraged the team to sign Mark and they offered him a non-roster invitation to spring training, which he accepted.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-a-successful/164793241/|title=A successful pitch|date=March 17, 2001|pages=62|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} On March 26, the Mets traded Leiter to the Colorado Rockies for Brian Rose.{{Cite web|url=https://tulsaworld.com/archive/colorado-trades-rose-to-mets-for-mark-leiter/article_4f4b670f-0d34-56ed-b086-1c6857af63db.html|title=Colorado trades Rose to Mets for Mark Leiter|date=March 27, 2001|website=Tulsa World|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Then on April 4, the Rockies traded Leiter, Mike DeJean, and Elvis Peña to the Milwaukee Brewers for Juan Acevedo, Kane Davis, and Jose Flores.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-mark-leiter-joins-brew/164795589/|title=Mark Leiter joins Brewers|date=April 5, 2001|pages=32|work=Asbury Park Press|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He had a 3.75 ERA in 36 innings pitched for the Brewers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2001.shtml|title=2001 Milwaukee Brewers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} Leiter signed with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League, an independent baseball league, for the 2002 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mark-leiter-signs-with-b/164796174/|title=Mark Leiter signs with Bears|date=April 10, 2002|pages=66|work=The Star-Ledger|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}} He pitched to a 3.78 ERA in {{frac|95|1|3}} innings pitched for the Bears.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=63b2af46|title=2002 Newark Bears Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=February 3, 2025}}

Personal life

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 the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jack-leiter-makes-family-history-with-mlb-debut|title=Why Jack Leiter's first MLB pitch was historic|website=MLB.com|date=April 18, 2024|first=Brian|last=Murphy|accessdate=February 6, 2025}}

In addition to Mark Jr, Mark and his wife, Allison, had a daughter, Kaley, and a son, Ryan. In 1994, Ryan died of spinal muscular atrophy when he was nine months old.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/24/sports/baseball-a-son-s-fight-against-death-inspires-a-father.html|title=BASEBALL; A Son's Fight Against Death Inspires a Father|first=Claire|last=Smith|date=April 24, 1994|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 3, 2024}} Mark and Allison started the Ryan Leiter Fund to raise funds for families of victims of the disease.

Leiter owns a pitching and hitting clinic in Toms River, New Jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/youth/little-league/2014/06/11/mark-leiter-deliver-keynote-address-little-league-banquet/10325091/|title=Mark Leiter to deliver keynote address at banquet|first=Kevin|last=Steimle|website=Asbury Park Press|date=June 11, 2014|accessdate=February 6, 2024}}