USA Baseball mourns the loss of baseball legend and former USA Baseball President Mark Marquess, who passed away Friday at the age of 78. Marquess played a significant role in USA Baseball’s history, leading the red, white, and blue to its first Olympic gold medal at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and serving as the organization’s president from 1989 to 1998.
Marquess was a longtime coach for USA Baseball national teams before being named the Olympic Team manager in 1988, where he led Team USA to a 5-3 victory over Japan in the gold medal game. For his achievement of winning the first Olympic gold medal in U.S. baseball history, Marquess was named the International Coach of the Year by the former International Baseball Federation.
“Mark Marquess was a true baseball legend and someone who had an incredible impact on building the foundation of USA Baseball,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. “His influence—both on the field and off—cannot be overstated. Leading the United States to its first Olympic gold medal in baseball was a historic achievement that reflected the extraordinary baseball mind and leadership he demonstrated throughout his career. Those same qualities are what led him to be chosen to serve as president of USA Baseball for nearly a decade. We will continue to build on the work and commitment Mark brought to this organization, and we will forever be grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”
“It is with great sadness that I reflect on the legendary life of Mark Marquess,” said USA Baseball President John Gall, who played for Marquess at Stanford University from 1997 to 2000. “For decades, he coached and built a culture at Stanford defined by relentless competitors and a standard of excellence that never wavered. His energy and spirit were unmatched, and while he demanded excellence from his players, he also demanded it from himself. I cannot imagine a better leader of young men. Other than my father, Mark was the most formative man in my life. To now serve USA Baseball in the same role he once held is both humbling and deeply meaningful, and it is a responsibility I proudly carry because of the lasting impact he had on me. The world is a better place because of his life.”
Beyond USA Baseball, Marquess built one of the most accomplished coaching careers in collegiate baseball history. He spent 41 seasons as the head coach at Stanford before retiring in 2017 as the fourth-winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Under his leadership, the Cardinal went 1,627-878-7 (.649), advanced to the College World Series 14 times, and won back-to-back national championships in 1987 and 1988.
A three-time NCAA Coach of the Year (1985, 1987, 1988), Marquess led his teams to the postseason in 30 of 41 seasons and coached more than 200 players who were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. He is one of only 10 individuals to have both played in and coached at the College World Series, and he is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
USA Baseball offers its deepest condolences to his wife, Susan, their three daughters, Bridget, Anne, and Maureen, and their grandchildren, as well as all who were fortunate enough to work with or play for him.
