The Royals announced that former big league reliever Mark Littell has passed away. He was 69 years old.
A Missouri native, Littell split his MLB career between the state’s two clubs. He signed with the Royals as an 18-year-old in 1971, and he reached the majors just two years later. The right-hander struggled over his first eight outings, including seven starts, posting a 5.68 ERA. That’s hardly surprising for a 20-year-old hurler, though, and Littell spent most of the following two seasons at Triple-A.
After a brief return to the majors in 1975, Littell moved to the bullpen full-time by ’76. He thrived in that role, working multiple innings as an old-school fireman and finding great success. He pitched to a 2.08 ERA in 104 innings over 60 outings that season, finishing 37 games in the process. Littell’s contributions even earned him some down-ballot MVP support.
That year didn’t end as Littell would’ve liked, as he surrendered Chris Chambliss’ famed walk-off home run to clinch the American League Championship Series for the Yankees. That was the only run he allowed in 4 2/3 innings through the series, though, as Littell continued to pitch exceptionally well until his final offering of the season. He returned to throw another 104 2/3 innings the next season, posting a 3.61 ERA. Littell made two appearances in that year’s postseason, allowing three runs in as many innings in another defeat to the Yankees.
The following offseason, Kansas City traded him to their in-state rivals in a deal that brought back former Cy Young finalist Al Hrabosky. Littell had two great seasons to kick off his tenure with the Cardinals, working to a sub-3.00 ERA while tallying more than 60 appearances in each of 1978-79. His production dipped thereafter, and he threw his final big league pitch in 1982. Littell didn’t partake in that year’s postseason, but he’d been a member of the St. Louis squad that won the World Series.
Altogether, Littell appeared in nine MLB seasons, working to a career 3.32 ERA over 532 innings. He finished 181 of his 316 appearances, including 56 saves. Littell fanned 466 batters, a 20.5% rate that was well above the league average at the time.
MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and former teammates.
Littell was a key part of a great era of Royals history and then Cardinals history.
He had fine career and was one of favs as a kid.
Always sad to see these articles. Too young. RIP.
Why wasn’t his name in red so we could look up his stats?
It’s red/linked now but iirc, the writers here have said that retired players are not auto-linked by whatever platform they use to write posts and need to be done manually.
Thank you
We’re starting to lose players from the 70s pretty frequently now. Great era of baseball.
RIP.
I just watched the 1976 Reds Vs. Yankees World Series. I forgot just how good those Reds were. With Dan Driessen at DH, the Big Red Machine was complete. That was the most formidable lineup in my lifetime.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting George Foster a couple of times. Absolutely great guy with some great stories.
I wasn’t around for that team but my dad rates then as one of the best in his lifetime.
Old school fireman in the Mike Marshall mode. Fine player.
Averaged over a strikeout an inning in the days when few accomplished that.
RIP to the Nutty Buddy, Mark Littell.
I remember Mark Littell threw very hard coming out of the pen for the Royals.
It doesn’t mean he was the first to have a walk up song. He’s the first player that I remember to have one: “Thank God I’m a Country Boy…”
Seems like only yesterday that he was pitching for those great Royals teams! Unfair that he is remembered primarily for the Chambliss homer.
RIP.
RIP Mark “Air Head” Littell
Along with Dick Schofield, George Kernek and Milt Ramirez, Litell is the fourth former Cardinal to die within the last two months. Tough on the Cardinals Nation.
Anyone have any background info on the 1 IP in A ball in 1994?
According to his obituary, “He did appear in one more game, with the Stockton Ports, a minor-league affiliate of the Brewers in 1994.
Littell, the team’s pitching coach, was pressed into emergency service and pitched a shutout inning, even earning the win when the team rallied in the bottom of the ninth.”
Helluva reliever back in the day!! Thanx for the memories Mark RIP
RIP Mark.
Way too young.
Littell just made a public appearance about a month ago at Busch stadium as a member of the Cardinals 1982 World Series team. They were celebrating the 40th anniversary of their championship..
His first season as a not the only 20 year old in KC as there was a little known player named Brett that year.
Known as “Country” Mark Littell.