Mark Connor
Encyclopedia
Mark Peter Connor is a former pitching coach
for the Baltimore Orioles
and Texas Rangers
. Before his coaching career, he was a minor league
pitcher
from 1971 through 1972 who batted and threw right-handed.
before his career was ended by an arm injury. He went 4-5 with a 2.78 ERA
, three saves
, and 57 strikeout
s in 55 innings
for the 1971 Auburn Twins
. The following season, he posted a 5-2 record with a 3.83 ERA in 32 relief
appearances for the Wisconsin Rapids Twins
.
from 1974 to 1978 and served as the head coach
in 1988 and 1989. He also coached in the major leagues for the New York Yankees
(1984–1987, 1990–1992), Arizona Diamondbacks
(1998–2000) and Toronto Blue Jays
(2001–2002) before joining Texas (2003). Under his guidance, Randy Johnson
earned consecutive NL Cy Young Award
honors in 1999 and 2000.
Connor served as the bullpen coach of the Rangers from 2003–2005, and became the team's pitching coach in 2006
. At the end of the season, the team named Ron Washington
as their new manager
for the 2007
season. Washington kept Connor as the pitching coach.
Conner was fired by the Texas Rangers on August 1, 2008. The Rangers re-hired Connor as a consultant in December 2008.
Connor joined the Baltimore Orioles
as their pitching coach for the 2011 season. He resigned on June 14 due to personal reasons.
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Before his coaching career, he was a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from 1971 through 1972 who batted and threw right-handed.
Playing career
Connor played two minor league seasons for the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
before his career was ended by an arm injury. He went 4-5 with a 2.78 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, three saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 57 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 55 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
for the 1971 Auburn Twins
Auburn Twins
The Auburn Twins, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1967 to 1971. They played in the New York-Penn League and were located in Auburn, New York. They played their home games at Falcon Park....
. The following season, he posted a 5-2 record with a 3.83 ERA in 32 relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearances for the Wisconsin Rapids Twins
Wisconsin Rapids Twins
The Wisconsin Rapids Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1963 to 1983. Affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, they played in the Midwest League and were located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin...
.
Coaching career
Following his playing career, Connor became the pitching coach at the University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
from 1974 to 1978 and served as the head coach
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in 1988 and 1989. He also coached in the major leagues for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1984–1987, 1990–1992), Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
(1998–2000) and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(2001–2002) before joining Texas (2003). Under his guidance, Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
earned consecutive NL Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
honors in 1999 and 2000.
Connor served as the bullpen coach of the Rangers from 2003–2005, and became the team's pitching coach in 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
. At the end of the season, the team named Ron Washington
Ron Washington
Ronald Washington is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and the current manager of the Texas Rangers. Prior to managing the Rangers, Washington coached in the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics organizations.-Playing career:Washington was signed by the Kansas City Royals on July 17, 1970...
as their new manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the 2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
season. Washington kept Connor as the pitching coach.
Conner was fired by the Texas Rangers on August 1, 2008. The Rangers re-hired Connor as a consultant in December 2008.
Connor joined the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
as their pitching coach for the 2011 season. He resigned on June 14 due to personal reasons.