Episode three of The Mask and the Mic reunites former NHL goaltender Guy Hebert and broadcaster Kent French as they welcome former MLB pitcher and longtime Angels broadcaster Mark Gubicza. Gubicza discusses growing up in Philadelphia playing multiple sports, including hockey and grade-school boxing, and how baseball became his focus through his father’s minor-league background and his brothers’ influence. He recalls playing shortstop and later moving positions, his approach to pitching and hitting, and how familiarity between teammates affects matchups, including how All-Star weekends can soften a player’s “edge.” Gubicza shares All-Star memories, including striking out Hall of Famer Gary Carter and later learning it was Carter’s only All-Star strikeout, and names Don Mattingly as the toughest hitter he faced. He describes struggling at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium and praises the 1984 Tigers as the best team he saw. He tells stories about his intense on-mound competitiveness, confrontations with hitters, and nearly tackling a runner after a late home run, plus trying to return quickly from shoulder surgery for the Angels. The conversation covers changes in athlete preparation and injury management, pitchers today with a similar competitive mindset, and Gubicza’s unexpected path into broadcasting through auditions that led to Fox Sports and a long career, emphasizing giving viewers insight beyond what they see. He highlights memorable broadcast moments, including milestones by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, Shohei Ohtani’s pitching and hitting feats, and the combined no-hitter honoring Tyler Skaggs, as well as the challenges of covering tragedies like Skaggs’ death, Nick Adenhart’s passing, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s bench collapse. Gubicza also describes the thrill of broadcasting between the benches at an NHL game, the speed and physicality of hockey, and his admiration for hockey players and the Miracle on Ice. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to The Mask & The Mic + Introducing Mark Gubicza01:48 Gubicza’s Philly roots: hockey mishaps & grade-school boxing03:39 Broad Street Bullies & the blue-collar Philly sports mentality05:46 Growing up playing everything: street games, wall ball, and nonstop competition09:10 Choosing baseball: dad’s minor-league past, Little League grind, and early fan heckling11:29 From shortstop to pitcher: big Little League numbers & learning the hitter’s mindset13:11 Teammates vs opponents: tendencies, intimidation, and the All-Star ‘edge’17:44 All-Star memories: Gretzky glove save & Gubicza’s Gary Carter strikeout story22:49 The toughest out: why Don Mattingly owned him26:43 Bad vibes ballpark: Tiger Stadium, the ’84 Tigers, and a place he couldn’t win29:51 Mound madness: trash talk, near-tackles, and playing with raw emotion34:59 Playing Through Pain: The Angels Comeback When the Arm Was Gone37:01 Injuries Then vs. Now: Smarter Recovery and Better Athlete Support39:50 Who’s Got the Bulldog Edge Today? Pitchers That Remind Him of His Fire42:24 Mullet Talk & Mind Games: The ‘Flow’ Era and Messing With Hitters44:12 From Mound to Mic: How Broadcasting Happened by Accident46:55 Learning to Analyze: Tell Fans ‘Why’ and Let Big Moments Breathe52:04 Best Calls & Unforgettable Nights: Trout Milestones, Ohtani, and the Skaggs No-Hitter55:41 Broadcasting the Hardest Days: Navigating Tragedy On Air01:02:15 What’s Next: Spring Training Coaching, Young Angels, and Hope for the Season01:05:53 Between the Benches: Ice-Level Hockey, Speed, and Respect for the Game01:09:39 Miracle on Ice Mentality & Final Wrap-UpSubscribe to our YouTube Channel
