TTM Stats
- Sent: 7/20/2022 | Received: 8/1/2022 | 11 Days
- ’86 Fleer, ’87 Topps, ’88 Topps, ’91 Fleer, ’93 Select
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 1/18/2023 | Received: 2/2/2023 | 14 Days
- ’88 Topps, ’92 Leaf, ’93 Pinnacle, ’93 Score, ’93 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 12/30/2023 | Received: 1/23/2024 | 23 Days
- ’85 Donruss, ’87 Leaf, ’87 Topps, ’89 Bowman, ’89 Donruss Traded
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 7/8/2024 | Received: 7/29/2024 | 21 Days
- ’87 Topps, ’89 Score, ’90 Fleer, ’92 Leaf, ’93 Donruss
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
- Sent: 2/24/2025 | Received: 3/20/2025 | 26 Days
- ’86 Topps, ’90 Fleer League Leaders, ’91 Score, ’92 O-Pee-Chee, ’92 Fleer Ultra
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
For more than a decade, Mark Gubicza was a mainstay on the mound for the Kansas City Royals, known for his bulldog mentality, powerful fastball, and durability. A two-time All-Star and World Series champion, Gubicza was a cornerstone of the Royals’ rotation during their most competitive years in the 1980s. Though his career was later impacted by injuries, his presence in Kansas City baseball lore remains strong, both on the field and in the broadcast booth.
Mark Steven Gubicza was born on August 14, 1962, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A talented multi-sport athlete at William Penn Charter School, he committed to baseball and was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 2nd round of the 1981 MLB Draft. Gubicza quickly rose through the Royals’ farm system, making his Major League debut on April 6, 1984, at just 21 years old.
His debut came during a key period in Royals history. Kansas City was building a competitive squad featuring George Brett, Frank White, and Bret Saberhagen, and Gubicza was slotted into a promising rotation.
By 1985, Gubicza had become a regular starter and contributed significantly to one of the most memorable seasons in Royals history. Though he didn’t pitch in the World Series itself, his 14-10 regular season record helped the Royals reach the postseason. Kansas City went on to win the 1985 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, marking the franchise’s first championship.
Gubicza’s blend of velocity and tenacity made him a formidable part of a deep pitching staff, and he continued to evolve in the years that followed.
Gubicza’s peak came in the late 1980s. In 1988, he put together a career-best season, going 20-8 with a 2.70 ERA and 183 strikeouts, finishing third in AL Cy Young Award voting behind Frank Viola and Dennis Eckersley. He was named to the All-Star team that year and again in 1989, when he posted another strong season (15-11, 3.04 ERA).
During this period, Gubicza was one of the most dependable pitchers in the American League. He was known for his workhorse mentality, throwing over 250 innings in both 1988 and 1989. His heavy fastball, good slider, and aggressive approach made him a tough matchup on any given day.
Unfortunately, the early 1990s brought injuries that derailed Gubicza’s consistency. Shoulder and elbow issues began to limit his effectiveness, and his innings dropped significantly. After spending 13 seasons with the Royals, he was traded to the Anaheim Angels before the 1997 season, but appeared in just 2 games due to injury before retiring.
He finished his career with a 132–136 record, a 3.96 ERA, and 1,371 strikeouts over 2,223.1 innings pitched. While his win-loss record may seem modest, it reflects a tough era for the Royals as a team and not the quality of his pitching during his peak years.
Post-retirement, Gubicza found new success as a baseball broadcaster. He became a color analyst for the Los Angeles Angels, where he’s worked for more than a decade, bringing insight, enthusiasm, and a pitcher’s perspective to the booth. His easygoing style and deep knowledge of the game have made him a fan favorite on Angels broadcasts.
He’s also been involved in youth baseball coaching and development, helping the next generation learn from his experiences.
Mark Gubicza’s legacy is rooted in his time with the Royals, where he was part of their golden era and one of the best pitchers in franchise history. From his contributions to the 1985 championship team to his All-Star dominance in the late ’80s, he was a leader both on the mound and in the clubhouse.
While injuries shortened his peak, his dedication, grit, and continued contributions to the game through broadcasting have made him a respected figure in baseball circles. Mark Gubicza exemplifies what it means to be a loyal teammate, a fierce competitor, and a lifelong ambassador for the game he loves.
The Score on Mark Gubicza – 6.5
Mark is such a reliable signer. You can see that he doesn’t really include much with his signature. It looks like he just kind of combines his “M” and “G”, but ultimately it all really just looks like a “G”. In the most recent return though he added a bit more squiggle so I am not sure that is a new thing or just a one-time thing.
Thanks Mr. Gubicza! I’m giving these a 6.5 overall.
There are definitely not the first of what I have received from him. To see some other returns, check out these posts:
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.