Mark Wagner

Mark Duane Wagner (born March 4, 1954) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played nine years in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers (1976–1980), Texas Rangers (1981–1983), and Oakland Athletics.

Early years Wagner was born in 1954 in Conneaut, Ohio. He attended Harbor High School in Ashtabula, Ohio.

Professional baseball Minor leagues He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1972 amateur draft.

Wagner was called up by the Tigers in August 1976 after Tom Veryzer sustained an ankle injury. Tagged as a "good field, no hit" player, Wagner impressed in his first week with the club, with hits in first two at bats, impressive defensive performance, and a game-winning run batted in off Goose Gossage. He appeared in 39 games with a .261 batting average.

Detroit Tigers During the spring of 1978, Wagner was again in competition for the starting shortstop job, this time with rookie Alan Trammell. Wagner appeared in 39 games during the 1978 season, including 27 as the starter at shortstop, and compiled a .239 batting average. He spent the 1981 season as the Rangers' backup shortstop, appearing in 50 games and compiling a .254 batting average. On May 17, 1982, he was stretching prior to a game when he was hit on the back of the head by a baseball thrown by Chicago White Sox Jerry Koosman. The blow resulted in dizzy spells, nausea, and balance problems and was limited to one at bat over the next two weeks. Other injuries followed, including a bout of prostatitis. On July 9, his season ended as the result of and a pulled intestinal muscle.

Oakland A's In November 1983, Wagner was not selected in the free agent re-entry draft. In April 1984, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Athletics. He compiled a .230 batting average for Oakland and appeared in his final major league game at age 30 on September 30, 1984.

Over nine seasons in Major League Baseball, Wagner played in 414 games and had a .243 batting average, 205 hits, 81 runs scored, 71 runs batted in, 61 walks, 20 doubles, nine triples and three home runs. Defensively, he appeared in 408 games (327 at shortstop) and tallied 469 putouts, 852 assists, 154 double plays, 61 errors, and a .956 fielding percentage.