Mark Ciardi

Mark Ciardi
Mark Ciardi
	Pitcher
	Born: August 19, 1961 (age 63); New Brunswick, New Jersey
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 9, 1987, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
	April 27, 1987, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–1
Earned run average	9.37
Strikeouts	8
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Milwaukee Brewers (1987);

Mark Thomas Ciardi (pronounced CHAR-dee; born August 19, 1961) is an American film producer and former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Apex Entertainment. Mark has a rich breadth of experience as a Film Executive, and Producer. Apex Entertainment is an independent content production firm that also serves as a financier for media properties. Prior to Apex, Ciardi was the co-founder of Mayhem Pictures that 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. Awaiting release is the worldwide best-selling novel, Fallen. He also produced the Emmy Award winning, ESPN 30 for 30 documentary titled Big Shot.

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.^[1]

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. Mark 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
2002	The New Guy
2004	Miracle
2006	Invincible
2007	The Game Plan
2010	Secretariat
2010	Tooth Fairy
2014	Million Dollar Arm
2015	McFarland, USA
2016	Fallen
2017	Chappaquiddick
2018	The Miracle Season
2020	The Way Back	Executive producer
2020	Safety
2021	American Underdog
TBA	Heat
TBA	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
2020	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. That 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.

References

^ O'Donnell, Chuck. "Mark Ciardi: A life worthy of a Hollywood script", Courier News, July 22, 2016. Accessed August 15, 2016. "Mark Ciardi pitching for Piscataway High School. After graduating in 1979, he went on to pitch at the University of Maryland.... Ciardi, who turns 55 in August, grew up on Mitchell Avenue in Piscataway."

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Mark Ciardi at IMDb

[1] O'Donnell, Chuck. "Mark Ciardi: A life worthy of a Hollywood script", Courier News, July 22, 2016. Accessed August 15, 2016. "Mark Ciardi pitching for Piscataway High School. After graduating in 1979, he went on to pitch at the University of Maryland.... Ciardi, who turns 55 in August, grew up on Mitchell Avenue in Piscataway."

[1]