Mark Esser

Mark Gerald Esser

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Miami Dade College
• High School Roy C. Ketcham High School
• Debut April 22, 1979
• Final Game April 29, 1979
• Born April 1, 1956 in Erie, PA USA
• Died May 12, 2025 in Jupiter, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Mark Esser had a brief cup of coffee with the Chicago White Sox in 1979.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Esser moved with his family to Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1965. He attended Roy C. Ketcham High School, where he starred on both the baseball diamond and basketball court. After graduation, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round of the 1975 amateur draft, but instead opted to attend Miami Dade College.

After his time at Miami Dade, Esser was taken by the White Sox in the January 1977 amateur draft. He pitched for the 1978 Appleton Foxes who went 97-40 and won the Midwest League crown. Esser had a record of 9-2 with 7 saves in 41 games while being chosen as an All-Star. His fellow pitchers on that team included LaMarr Hoyt, Britt Burns and Ross Baumgarten.

Esser was called up to the big leagues from the AAA Iowa Oaks by the Sox in April 1979. He made his major league debut on April 22nd at Cleveland Stadium, coming out of the bullpen in the seventh inning to face the Cleveland Indians. He pitched an inning and a third, giving up a single to Wayne Cage and walking Horace Speed and Toby Harrah, but did not give up a run in his debut. His next outing, a week later at Comiskey Park, did not go so well. Entering the game against the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning, he struck out Dave Roberts but then gave up a pair of walks and a single, allowing three earned runs over just a third of an inning before being replaced on the mound by Dewey Robinson. Following that game, he was sent back down to Iowa, where he finished the year with a 1-5 record and 6.62 ERA in 43 appearances.

The White Sox converted Esser to a starter in 1980. In 25 starts between the Glens Falls White Sox, Appleton, and Iowa, he went 10-12 with a 3.87 ERA. However, he injured his left hand following the season and missed the entire 1981 campaign. Back with Glens Falls in 1982, he combined with Bill Atkinson to throw a no-hitter against the Reading Phillies on August 2nd. However, after posting a 1-1 record and 6.51 ERA in 9 appearances that year, his playing days came to an end.

Following his baseball career, Esser returned to Poughkeepsie. He later moved to Florida, where he died in 2025.

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