"Acre, who preferred basketball to baseball in his youth, pitched two no-hitters in high school, including a state championship game, and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1991. The 6' 8" Acre sported a 92-95 mph fastball, supplemented by a forkball and a slider, and was touted by the A's as Dennis Eckersley's successor. But despite his physical tools, Acre lacked intimidating mound presence; furthermore, he struggled in 1995 after his mother died of cancer early in the season." - Steve Holtje on Baseball Library (2006, 'Marc Acre', Source)