Marv Rickert

Marv Rickert
Marv Rickert
Runs batted in	145
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Chicago Cubs (1942, 1946–1947); Cincinnati Reds (1948); Boston Braves (1948–1949); Pittsburgh Pirates (1950); Chicago White Sox (1950);

Marvin August Rickert (January 8, 1921 – June 3, 1978) was an American professional

Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88 kg). He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.^[1]

Rickert is perhaps best known for his tenure with the Boston Braves in 1948–49. Acquired by Boston from Cincinnati in a May 11, 1948, trade for fellow outfielder

runs batted in in 128 games,^[2] as the MLB Braves won the National League

pennant.

'Emergency' player during 1948 World Series

Rickert was not summoned to Boston when the Brewers' season ended and returned home to his native

home plate against the Brooklyn Dodgers, knocking him out of action for the 1948 World Series

, just seven days away.

Needing a left-handed hitting outfielder to replace Heath, the Braves put in an urgent call to Rickert, summoned him back East, and placed him on their roster, while successfully appealing to

Cleveland Indians, and got one of the Braves' two hits in their 1–0 victory over Bob Feller at Braves Field. Held hitless in Game 2, then out of the lineup in the third game against southpaw Gene Bearden, he returned to the starting lineup in Game 4 to collect two more hits in four at bats off Steve Gromek, one of them a solo home run for the Braves' only tally in a 2–1 defeat. Rickert then started the final two games of the Series as well, but collected only one hit in eight at bats.^[3]

All told, he batted .211 in the World Series (four for 19), won by Cleveland in six games.

Rickert made the 1949 Braves roster and enjoyed his finest Major League season that year. Replacing Heath as Boston's most-used left fielder, Rickert appeared in an even 100 games and batted .292 with six home runs and 49 runs batted in. But Rickert's time in Boston was over: his contract was sold to the Pirates in December. Rickert would split the 1950 season between Pittsburgh and the White Sox, then play two more years in the minors before retiring after the 1952 season.

During his Major League career, Rickert collected 284 hits, including 45 doubles, nine triples, and 19 home runs.

Death

Rickert died from a heart attack at the age of 57 on June 3, 1978, on his farm in Oakville, Washington.

References

^ ^a ^b Marv Rickert at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Gene Gumbs. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
^ Minor league statistics from Baseball Reference
^ Retrosheet

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Marv Rickert at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Gene Gumbs. Retrieved July 16, 2013.

[carley-1] Marv Rickert at the SABR Baseball Biography Project, by Gene Gumbs. Retrieved July 16, 2013.

[meg-2] Minor league statistics from Baseball Reference

[3] Retrosheet

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