Grace had been told that he was going to be replaced by Hee Seop Choi in 2001. Choi, obviously, wasn’t ready then, but Grace was dumped, allowed to leave as a free agent.

That would have been fine — happens all the time, and it wasn’t that great a decision — but Grace chose to badmouth management AND Cubs fans; he flaunted his WS ring in our faces, and I, for one, resented that attitude.

The idea that “one had to leave” is false. Grace and Cubs management made up when John McDonough took over from Andy MacPhail.

But he’s put his lot in with the Diamondbacks now. And he’s a crappy broadcaster. Let it go.

I am on board with Al in terming your detailing of Grace to be revisionist history. Grace was dealt with honestly by the Cubs and he crapped on management. In 2000 he was asked to split time towards the end of the season with Julio Zueleta and Grace would have none of it. He was told after the 2000 season that it was in the Cubs plans to begin to turn the 1B position over the Hee Seop Choi and Grace decided to go elsewhere. It was the Cubs mistake in their evaluation of Choi, but they dealt with Grace honestly. Upon winning the World Series, Grace slapped the Cubs by saying (something very closely to) “I wasn’t good enough to be the Cubs starting 1B, but I was good enough to be the starting 1B for a World Series Champ.”

What I find funny, though, is this belief that Grace is being disrespected or whatever. Grace was a sacred cow during his Cubs tenure. He buddied up with the media and this saved him from real criticism about his after work habits and overall lack of healthy lifestyle. By all reports, he was a lousy influence on younger Cubs players. So say what you want… Grace was a great hitter, but there is real reason for criticism and I’m glad he’s working elsewhere. He’s a terrible announcer and I hope Ricketts and co never bring him back for more than the occasional appearance at the Cubs convention.

No doubt he partied… but he still had to be doing something right physically, or he wouldn’t have been able to do what he did as a professional athlete… especially for as long as he did.

For a lot of years, Mark Grace was the face of the Cubs. Sure, he was overshadowed by Ryne Sandberg early in his career, and Sammy Sosa late in his career. Much like Lou Gehrig played in the shadow of Babe Ruth, then later, Joe DiMaggio. Now before anyone flies off the handle by saying Mark Grace was no Lou Gehrig, let me stop you. If I implied something like that just because he was one of my favorites, that would be stupid. But if you saw Mark Grace’s Cub career from start to finish, as many of us here did, I don’t know how anyone could remember him in any way other than fondly. The WS he won with 2001 not only did not rub me the wrong way, I was rooting for him like crazy. He played on some terrible teams here, and never complained. He had every opportunit to leave via free agency, but he just fell in love with Chicago, Wrigley Field….and Rush Street and the ladies.

He’s no HOF’er, but did anyone know that he had more hits than any player in the 1990’s. The most hits of any Major League player, for the entire decade. Anyone. Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa, Jeff Bagwell, name any other star player of the ‘90s. Grace beat every one of them. Add to that his gold gloves, clubhouse leadership, friendliness toward the fans, clutch hits (who did you want at the plate with the game on the line other than Grace?), batting average, RBI’s, an unbelievable amount of doubles. For anyone who says he was simply a good player, not a great player, put all that in your pipe and smoke it. Mark Grace was not a HOF’er, but he was a great player. Not good, great. He loved the Cubs and Cub fans. He also did not like Andy McFail. I, personally, hated Andy McFail, so if Grace took a shot at him after he left, more power to him. McFail sucked, and was one of the worst things that ever happened to the Cubs.

In the years since he’s left, I have never heard Grace say anything negative about Cub fans. Just the opposite, in fact. And believe me, I listen for stuff like that. He talks often about how much we deserve a world championship. Sure, he took shots at Cubs management. If he wanted to rub his WS ring in their faces, again I ask, what’s the problem with that? He should have. When he came to the Cubs Convention a few years ago for the first time in years, he was the biggest draw to every session he went to, which was great to see. He’s no good as an announcer. So what? He’s a Cub, and I love the guy.

if Grace was a Cub in 2003, how different do you tink things would have been?

was and will continue to be my favoirte Cub of all time. Liked the way he played the game and though he’s certainly not the best behind the mic, I still appreciate his comments and overall personality.

…because he felt forced out and knew Choi would be a flop.