Marty Marion
Marty Marion | |
---|---|
Shortstop / Manager | |
Born: Richburg, South Carolina, U.S. | December 1, 1917|
Died: March 15, 2011 Ladue, Missouri, U.S. | (aged 93)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 16, 1940, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 6, 1953, for the St. Louis Browns | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .263 |
Home runs | 36 |
Runs batted in | 624 |
Managerial record | 356–372 |
Winning % | .489 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Martin Whiteford "Mr. Shortstop" Marion (December 1, 1917 – March 15, 2011) was an American Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. Marion played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns between 1940 and 1953. He was a defensive stalwart of the Cardinals' dynasty in the 1940s, which saw them win three World Series in a five year span, and was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1944, the first shortstop in the history of the National League to win the award.[1] Marion managed the Cardinals in 1951, the Browns from June 10, 1952, through 1953, and the Chicago White Sox from September 14, 1954 through 1956. During his career, he batted and threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
Baseball career
Marion was born in
From 1940 to 1950, Marion led the
Marion was also a better-than-average hitter for a shortstop. His most productive season came in 1942, when he hit .276 with a league-leading 38 doubles. In the 1942 World Series, one of four series in which he participated with the Cardinals, he helped his team to a World Championship. In 1943 he batted a career-high .280 in the regular season and hit .357 in the 1943 World Series.
He played with many second basemen throughout his career, including
Marion's playing career was interrupted in 1951 by knee and back injuries.
In 1958, Marion purchased the Double-A minor league Houston Buffaloes from the Cardinals, and successfully moved the team to the Triple-A level under the Chicago Cubs farm system.[5] He later sold the team to a group led by William Hopkins on August 16, 1960.[6] Hopkins then sold the team to the Houston Sports Association led by Roy Hofheinz who had obtained a major league franchise in the National League which became the Houston Astros.[7]
Career statistics
In a 13-season career, Marion posted a .263
Managerial record
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
STL | 1951 | 154 | 81 | 73 | .526 | 3rd in NL | – | – | – | – |
STL total | 154 | 81 | 73 | .526 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
SLB | 1952 | 103 | 42 | 61 | .408 | 7th in AL | – | – | – | – |
SLB | 1953 | 154 | 54 | 100 | .351 | 8th in AL | – | – | – | – |
SLB total | 257 | 96 | 161 | .374 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
CWS | 1954 | 9 | 3 | 6 | .333 | 3rd in AL | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 1955 | 154 | 91 | 63 | .591 | 3rd in AL | – | – | – | – |
CWS | 1956 | 154 | 85 | 69 | .552 | 3rd in AL | – | – | – | – |
CWS total | 317 | 179 | 138 | .565 | 0 | 0 | – | |||
Total | 728 | 356 | 372 | .489 | 0 | 0 | – |
Attempt at Purchasing NBA Team
In 1957, Marion and business partner Milton Fischman attempted to buy the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association from owners Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen with the intention to move the team to Kansas City, Missouri. Instead, Berger and Chalfen sold the team to Bob Short, who moved the team to Los Angeles.
Death
Marion died of an apparent heart attack on March 15, 2011, at the age of 93. He lived in Ladue, Missouri.[8][9]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball player–managers
- List of St. Louis Cardinals managers • Coaches
References
- ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
- ^ New York Times. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ Asher, Gene (May 2009). "School of Champions". GeorgiaTrend. GeorgiaTrend. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ^ Francis, Bill. "Marty Marion — No Shortage of Talent". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Cogapp. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Marion Gets Lumps as Front Office Man". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 1960-03-22. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- St. Petersburg Times. August 17, 1960. p. 3-C.
- ^ "Houston Will Get Emphasis, Paul Declares". Observer–Reporter. 1961-01-19. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "'Mr. Shortstop' Marty Marion dies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 17, 2011.
- ^ "Marty Marion dies; shortstop was MVP with '44 Cards". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 16, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Marty Marion at Find a Grave