Mark Ciardi

Mark Thomas Ciardi (pronounced CHAR-dee; born August 19, 1961) is an American film producer and former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the founder and president of Select Films, an independent content production firm that also serves as a financier for media properties.

Prior to Select Films, Ciardi was the co-founder of Mayhem Pictures, which had an overall first-look deal with Walt Disney Studios for twelve years. At Mayhem, Ciardi produced several sports films for Walt Disney Pictures, including The Rookie, Miracle, Invincible, The Game Plan, Secretariat, Million Dollar Arm, McFarland, USA, and Safety.

Ciardi also produced A Million Miles Away for Amazon Studios, as well as Chappaquiddick, The Miracle Season, and the Lionsgate film American Underdog. He also produced the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Big Shot and the 30 for 30 documentary 42 to 1.

A native of Piscataway, New Jersey, Ciardi was an All-State high school pitcher, graduating from Piscataway Township High School as part of the class of 1979.

He continued his baseball career at the University of Maryland, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He was drafted in 1983 by the Milwaukee Brewers organization and was called up to the major leagues in 1987. He retired the following year due to an injury.

Ciardi is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on the board of trustees at the University of Maryland. He is married with two children and resides in Los Angeles.

Filmography He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted. Film Year Film Credit 2002 The Rookie The New Guy 2004 Miracle 2006 Invincible 2007 The Game Plan 2010 Secretariat Tooth Fairy 2014 Million Dollar Arm 2015 McFarland, USA 2016 Fallen 2017 Chappaquiddick 2018 The Miracle Season 2020 The Way Back Executive producer Safety 2021 American Underdog 2023 A Million Miles Away The Senior Heat Wish List

As an actor

Year Film Role 1998 Welcome to Hollywood Operation Redline Production Crew 2000 Me, Myself & Irene Softball Player 2002 The Rookie Tim Stewart 2005 Fever Pitch 1980's Sox Player

Television Year Title Credit Notes 2013−18 30 for 30 Executive producer Documentary 2020 Legacy Executive producer Documentary Benedict Men Executive producer Documentary

Major League Baseball career

Ciardi played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987. He opened the season on the Milwaukee Brewers roster in which they started the season with 13 consecutive wins, winning the eighth game in that streak against the Orioles, but losing the 14th game of the season. The opening 13-game winning streak is a record that still stands today. Ciardi remained in the big leagues for one month that year, then retired the following year due to a shoulder injury. In 2023, the record was tied by the Tampa Bay Rays, who were the subject of the first film that Ciardi produced.