Mark Alan Littell (January 17, 1953 – September 5, 2022), nicknamed "Country" and "Ramrod",[1] was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball in 1973 and from 1975 to 1982 for the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals.

Bone spurs in his elbow cut his career short, forcing him to retire midway through the 1982 season at the age of 29, before the Cardinals went on to win the World Series.

He opened the 1973 season with the Omaha Royals of the American Association, and made his major league debut as a starting pitcher on June 14, 1973.

Littell allowed a walk-off home run to New York Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss to end the 1976 American League Championship Series.

[9] Littell had 12 saves in 1977, and also was a starting pitcher for five games, as the Royals again won the division and lost the AL Championship Series to the Yankees.

[6] Littell was traded along with Buck Martinez to the St. Louis Cardinals for Al Hrabosky during the Winter Meetings on December 8, 1977.

[8] He saved 13 games in 1979[9] and had a 2.53 ERA in his first two seasons as a Cardinal, but suffered an arm injury that limited his effectiveness afterwards.

[17] He joined the San Diego Padres organization and served as the pitching coach for the Charleston Rainbows of the Class A South Atlantic League for the 1990 season[18] and the High Desert Mavericks of the Class A-Advanced California League in 1991.

[20] After the 1991 season, the Milwaukee Brewers hired Littell as the pitching coach of the Stockton Ports of the California League.

Called the "Nutty Buddy", Littell posted a video on YouTube of himself testing the cup by wearing it while getting hit in the groin by a pitching machine.