Wiley Takes Off His Uniform For a Final Time, Retires After 51 Years in Pro Ball

Having spent the past couple of weeks helping with the Rockies instructional league players and the selected members for the Arizona Fall League, Mark Wiley took a commerical flight from Phoenix to Orlando, Fla., — with a change of planes in Charlotte, N.C. —on Sunday.

And on Monday, he will begin his retirement after 51 years in professional baseball as a pitcher, pitching coach, and scout.

“It’s going to be different,” said Wiley. “I’ve told the Rockies I’d be happy to do some special assignments for them, but the time has come to spend time at home.”

Wiley spent three tours with the Rockies. He was the franchise’s director of player personnel in 2000, a special assistant to player development in 2006-07, and the director of pitching operations the last eight years, when he also did special assignment scouting.

His 51 years in pro ball began after his graduation from Cal Poly Pomono, where he was enshrined in the Broncos Hall of Fame. He embarked on an 11-year playing career, which included spending the 1975 season in the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins, and the 1978 season split between the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays.

When he retired as a player, Wiley embarked on a coaching career, initially at the minor-league level.He made his Major League coaching debut in 1987 as the pitching coach of the Balitmore Orioles. He also served two stints in that role with the Cleveland Indians (1988-91, 1995-98). The Indians had the lowest ERA in the American League in 1995 and 1996.

In between his terms with the Rockies he worked for the Marlins as a special assistant to the general manager (2010-12). He also was the pitching coach for the Marlins in 2005, 2008 and 2009.