World Series... Game 7... Bottom of the 9th... his team down by a run. Grace is leading off the inning and it's the biggest at-bat of his career. What's he do? What he's always done. He comes up with the big hit in the pressure situation. It sparks the rally that brings Grace the ring he's toiled 13 season to achieve. Why, you ask, do I choose Mark Grace to admire? That moment. That one amazing, shining moment that perfectly captures the career and the man.
	Grace finally got a World Series ring in 2001, and now I have mine. This is a replica of the rings given to Arizona's players and coaches, without the diamonds. It was a giveaway at Bank One Ballpark on April 2, 2002. It's a nicely detailed, metal ring. 30,000 were given away at the promotion.
	Mark Grace hit 173 homeruns during his career. This is the actual ball he hit for #34. It was thrown by Pirates pitcher Mike Tomlin during the sixth inning of a July 4, 1991 game between Chicago and Pittsburgh. I obtained the ball from the estate of Major League Umpire Durwood Merrill after his death in January, 2003. It bears an early-type Grace autograph, so most likely it was signed at the time he hit it.
	This is definately a collection highlight! The story of this mitt is that in 1995, Disney/ABC Sports was considering launching a sporting goods line with the help of Wilson Sporting Goods (around the time Disney bought the California Angels). They made two prototype mitts. Mark Grace wore one of them in a couple of games, the other was a backup. Well, the deal fell through and the sporting goods line never went into production. Wilson gave the Disney executive heading up the project the backup mitt as a thank-you present for his efforts. I purchased the mitt from that man. As you can see, Mark's name and a Disney "Mouse Ears" logo are embroidered on the outside thumb. The inside features a Mickey Mouse head burned into the leather. It is a Wilson Model 1883 Pro-Back model. Of course, it's a left-handed first basemen's mitt. I wonder if the one Grace used is still out there, or if this is really a one-of-a-kind collectible.
	Pacific Trading Cards made their final baseball card set in 2001. These are slides Pacific had taken in 2000 for future card sets that were never produced. They picture Grace in an August 3, 2000 game against the San Diego Padres. They were taken by sports photographer Robert Leiter. It would be interesting to have prints made from them. Anyone interested?
	Mark's class picture (middle of page) from his junior year high school yearbook, 1981. Mark attended Tustin High School in Tustin, California. He lettered in both basketball and baseball for the Tillers. I obtained the yearbook from a book dealer in California. I guess Gracie couldn't afford a hair cut until he started playing pro ball!
	Gotta love the bobbleheads! This one was given out on August 18th, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark as the Diamondbacks took on the Cubs. Grace went 0 for 4 with 1 RBI as the D-backs won 5 to 3. There were 14,800 of these white (home) jersey bobbleheads given out. There are 200 more very rare purple (away) jersey variations. Asked if he thought the image of him was accurate, Grace said "Well, it's a pretty ugly doll and I'm a pretty ugly guy, so I think they got it right."
	Mark Grace as a Superhero, it's only fitting. Pretty funny to see Grace and his Diamondbacks' teammates Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson, Jay Bell and Tony Womak fighting the baseball-eating pool monster that lives in the outfield pool at Bank One Ballpark. Easily one of the lamest stories in the history of comics. Most of the story revolves around pool safety for kids. Issued by IHOP restaurants, you had to order a chicken-fried steak meal to get the comic. Bizarre promotion, bizarre oddball collectible!
	A dealer badge from the 2002 National Sports Collectors Convention that was held in Chicago. I walked around all day and only saw one dealer with a badge featuring a Mark Grace card, so I was lucky that he was willing to sell it to me and send it to me after the show. The card is a 2002 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia card.
	Wake up on your birthday, pop this cassette in the tape deck, and presto!-Mark Grace is wishing you a Happy Birthday. What a great idea the "A Happy Baseball Birthday" tapes were! Distributed by MDV Marketing , Inc. in 1992, the package even included a free 1992 Topps baseball card.
	Not many people have a napkin from Mark Grace's first wedding (to actress Michelle Johnson). Then again, not many people really would want one. You have to be a Grace freak like me to think this is an awesome item to own.
	I found these temporary tattoos in a souvenier shop across from Wrigley Field, and couldn't live without them. So cool!
	Ticket stub from Mark's 2000th hit game. I was there, and got on TV right after the hit. The crowd had been cheering for him all day after he got his 1999th hit in his first at bat. It was his last at bat of the game, and he delivered, just like always. My favorite real-life Grace experience.
	To me, every Grace card is worth its weight in gold. But none more so than this one... a 22kt. gold plated card from the Danbury Mint. Released in 2000, these cards had to be purchased two per month. I don't have any idea how many were produced.
	Two 8"x10" photos from Photo File, Inc. and licensed by Major League Baseball. Grace doesn't think he is the greatest looking guy in the world, but nonetheless, the women swoon. And from the number of letters I get from female collectors, looks like he's as popular as ever. Guess he's got no reason to be concerned after all.
	Topps Porcelain Card from 1990. Very rare - just try and find one for yourself! They are individually hand numbered. I never see these for sale. And don't drop it!
	Topps also licensed this ceramic square magnet featuring the image from his 1989 Topps card. It was produced as part of the "Dugout Collection" from R & N in 1990. It measures 2.5" by 2".
	1998 Limited Edition coin from Enviromint. Who would you rather have on a coin: Grace or Sacagawea? I thought so. Write your Congressperson today!
	Topps Stand-Up and Candy Dispenser. The Candy Dispenser comes in two varieties, clear and green. Clear is more scarce. Mine still has the candy in it. Anyone care for a piece?
	Fear the floating head of Grace! Some Topps genius must have saw one of those "Baby on Board" signs hanging from a car window and come up with the short-lived Heads Up line. Grace was only available in the extremely limited production 1989 Test Issue. Believe it or not, the high Beckett book value on this Grace is $100.00!
	Another Topps oddball, the rare 1997 Topps ProShooters Marble . Didn't go over well with the public. I don't have the #1 checklist card with Grace on it yet, but would like one if you know where I can get one.
	A beautiful 1996 Wrigley Field Scorecard, featuring Grace in mid swing. This is a stunning piece, made even more special because Grace signed it with a really sharp autograph. The uncluttered design of this piece and the crisp colors make this scorecard a personal favorite.
	The hardest to find Grace Starting Lineup is from this limited, numbered 1989 Cubs team set. From left to right: Andre Dawson, Mitch Webster, Ryne Sandberg, Shawon Dunston, Rick Sutcliffe, Mark Grace, Damon Berryhill, Vance Law, and Curtis Wilkerson.
	Think of the fun you can have with a Mark Grace All-Star Mask... you're set for Halloween, you can try to get into the player's entrance at Wrigley Field, and the women will be falling all over you! I like to wear mine to fancy Chicago restaurants and get really good tables. Or stand outside Wrigley after games and sign autographs. Big, big fun!
	High5 reusable decals from 1992. These were only produced for one year. They stick to most surfaces and can be peeled off. They were made for every team in the big leagues. Pictured with Grace are Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, George Bell and Greg Maddux. Included inside is a larger card of Sandberg.
	Two great Cubs Quarterly Magazines featuring Grace. I especially like the one on the right, which juxtaposes photos of a Rookie and Veteran Mark Grace.
	This is the only authorized Grace signature on a licensed card product prior to 2001. It's from a 1988 Star Co. set. It came with a certificate of authenticity and each set was individually numbered, but I've never heard what the total number of sets produced was. If you know, please let me know.
	Three variations of a 1989 premium that came in a loaf of bread. The variations are (clockwise): Rainer Farms, Holsum Schafer's and Holsum. There is also an error version of this card with Vance Law's picture on it, but Mark Grace's name on front.
	In 1989, the Starline Company, best known for their posters, produced this 6 card in an effort to find a corporate sponsor. Approximately 500 sets were produced and given to executives. The variations are Domino's Pizza, Burger King, Coca-Cola, Starline Logo, 7-Eleven and McDonalds. A 40 card set was eventually produced in 1990. That set was sponsored by Long John Silvers. This is an expensive set to find today. I've seen one dealer asking $150 for it.
	This autographed Mark Grace model Rawlings Big Stick bat hangs on my wall. My fiancee Amy bought me it for Christmas. She bought it from a man who had won it in a contest at the 2000 Cubs Convention. This is what an authentic Grace signature should look like.
	Does anybody know who made these replica 1914 B18 felt tobacco blankets? If you know what company made them or in what year they were made, please email me.
	These are press check cards for the 1994 Post Cereal set. Don't know much about them or how they got into the open marketplace, but they are an interesting oddball set.
	This 1988 Chicago Cubs Team Signed Ball is one of my favorite items in my collection. Grace's signature is shown in the middle of the picture. It was from his rookie year. Other notable signatures on the ball are Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux and Raphael Palmeiro.
	My collection of Mark Grace hat pins, that proudly adorn the Cubs hat I wear to every Cubs game I attend. My personal favorite is the "Farewell #17" pin (middle of top row) issued after his trade to the Diamondbacks.
	Special thanks to my friend and fellow Grace collector Eileen in New Mexico, who really is a kind and generous soul. She was very thoughtful to send me these hat pins of Grace from Bank One Ballpark. Thanks "Laser!"
	Looking at this 8"x10" photo always makes me smile. It captured Grace celebrating after the Cubs won the one-game wild card playoff and a spot in the 1998 NL playoffs. But looking at the photo also makes me wonder how great it would have been to see Mark celebrate a World Series Championship as a Cub. Seeing him win with Arizona was a great joy though, and was a suitable reward for all his years of hard work.