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Mark Gardner on Giants' 2014 World Series Title, Why Fresno Turns Out Great Players
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 11 months ago on
August 14, 2024
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The ingredients for Fresno's great MLB success are outstanding coaches from college down to Little League, the community's love of baseball, and sunny weather much of the year, says former San Francisco Giants pitcher and coach Mark Gardner. (GV Wire Video/David Taub)

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You might find Mark Gardner these days at Copper River Golf Club.

“The playoffs require total dedication. You’re mentally drained after a few games, and you have to persevere. And they did that. They came through and never gave up.” — Mark Gardner, analyzing the San Francisco Giants team that won the 2014 World Series

The former MLB pitcher and coach still calls Fresno home.

“I’m retired, so it’s just play golf every once in a while, relax, and enjoy. And, I keep up with the Giants. It’s always nice to be able to come back (to San Francisco),” Gardner told GV Wire on Saturday at Oracle Park.

Before Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, the Giants honored the 2014 World Series-winning team. Gardner was on hand for an on-field ceremony, followed by taking in the game from a luxury suite with his fellow coaches from that year’s team.

“We were always the underdog. We had to go through the Wild Card system. We didn’t blow the doors off anybody. We didn’t win the division. But these guys really stepped up,” Gardner said. “And the playoffs require total dedication. You’re mentally drained after a few games, and you have to persevere. And they did that. They came through and never gave up,” Gardner said.

The Giants won their third World Series in five years in 2014. In the playoffs, they clipped Pittsburgh in the Wild Card game, then defeated Washington, St. Louis, and Kanas City en route to the title.

Dramatic moments marked the playoff run, including an 18-inning win at Washington; former Fresno Grizzlies player Travis Ishikawa hitting the pennant-winning homer; and Madison Bumgarner’s legendary World Series Game 7.

Mark Gardner pitched 13 seasons in the big leagues and coached for the San Francisco Giants from 2003 to 2017. (San Francisco Giants)

Giants manager Bob Melvin joked “I don’t like any of them.”

Melvin managed the rival Oakland Athletics in 2014.

“We had some spirited battles with those guys,” Melvin said on Saturday. “Those teams were so good. They always were always the team that showed up at the moment, and in big moments and won close games, big games,” Melvin said.

Why Fresno Turns Out MLB Talent

Gardner, a Clovis High, Fresno City and Fresno State grad, pitched 13 years for Montreal, Kansas City, Florida, and the Giants. After his playing career ended in 2001, he served as the Giants bullpen coach from 2003 to 2017, and has three World Series rings to his credit.

What made Fresno such a hotbed for talent such as New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge?

“They’ve got some good coaches in town. They’ve all been mostly products of Fresno State. You know, (coaches) Bob Bennett, Pete Biden, and Mike Batesole. So it’s always been a good head coach out there, and usually the disciples and the former players who get out there in the high schools and Little Leagues. So it’s a good quality. It’s a good fundamental, school of learning. And I think that’s kind of trickle down to all the youth,” Gardner said.

The usually sunny skies are a benefit as well.

“It was a good place to be outside and play baseball. And that’s all we did as kids. You know, there were no video games or anything. So you really honed your skills outside. It was always a good community,” Gardner said.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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