A look back at the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 Game Seven World Series line-up

The last World Series game the Diamondbacks played prior to 2023 was Game Seven of the 2001 World Series, so let's look at their most recent World Series winning line-up.

Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks | Christian Petersen/GettyImages
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Diamondbacks assistant hitting coach Mark Grace looks on before a game against the Texas Rangers on
Diamondbacks assistant hitting coach Mark Grace looks on before a game against the Texas Rangers on | David Kadlubowski / The Republic, David

First Baseman Mark Grace

Mark Grace spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs. But in 2001, his first year in Arizona, he would become a key member of their line-up and win his first World Series. After many productive seasons in Chicago, Grace took his talents out West and continued to hit for the Snakes.

Grace, in 553 plate appearances, slashed .298/.386/.466 with a 118 wRC+. He clubbed 16 home runs, and his .168 ISO was the third-best of his career. Grace never once struck out in more than 10% of his plate appearances in any of the 16 years he was in the big leagues. He had just a 6.5% K% in '01, but he still walked at a strong 12.1% rate.

Grace had always been known as a great defensive first baseman, and 2001 was no different. He racked up +5 total zone runs, and while he didn't win a Gold Glove this season, he was a positive force with the leather at the corner. Grace was a positive defensive first baseman in all but three of his 16 seasons.

Grace was a good hitter in the Postseason, including the World Series. Grace had four walks and five hits in 23 WS plate appearances. Two of those hits were extra-base hits, with a double and a homer. He had struck out just five times in all 15 games he played in the '01 Postseason. For reference, Kyle Schwarber struck out five times in the NL Wild Card Series this year alone.

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