S.I.: Wagner: Mark Grace emerged from Steroid Era with more than his integrity

Yes…he came away with some of the greatest hitting statyrisis of the 90’s!

In a radio interview last week with Sports Illustrated’s Dan Patrick, the former Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman said, “I am a single guy now and I was a single guy then [in the 1990s], and I like my sex life. I want to be able to perform. It’s kinda funny, but it’s not. That stuff [steroids] will tear you up as far as your manhood’s concerned.”

To be clear, Grace, who has been married twice, was never exactly a poster boy for clean living. He was the Pied Piper of Wrigleyville during his tenure with the Cubs from 1988 to 2000, fueled by booze, nicotine, his libido and his gregarious nature. But after years of half-truths and outright lies from multitudes of steroids-using players, his remarks to Patrick seem strangely refreshing. No, we’re not talking about St. Augustine of Hippo here, but we can at least applaud Grace’s strong sense of self. Finally, a man with his priorities in order.

...But this story has a happy ending. After that final stressful season in Chicago, Grace signed as a free agent with Arizona and bid adieu to his Wrigleyville stomping grounds. And finally, he became a winner. Grace was part of the Diamondbacks team that defeated the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series. He even had a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 to spark Arizona’s winning rally.

His conscience clear, he retired a couple years later to a life of more fun and games as an announcer for the Diamondbacks. Unlike so many of his peers, Grace came through the Steroid Era with his manhood intact.