Marty Marion
Born: 12/1/1916 in Richburg, SC, USA
Died: 3/15/2011 in Ladue, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1940-04-16 | Final Game: 1953-07-06
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Martin Whiteford Marion
Biography
Marty Marion, born in 1916, was a prominent American professional baseball player who enjoyed a successful career from 1940 to 1953. Known for his exceptional defensive skills as a shortstop, Marion was a pivotal figure in the National League during the post-World War II era, a time characterized by the return of veterans and the evolution of the game towards a more aggressive offensive style. Over his 13-year career, he played in 1,572 games, accumulating 1,448 hits, 36 home runs, and 624 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .263. His ability to impact games both offensively and defensively earned him a reputation as a well-rounded player.
Marion's contributions to the game were recognized through multiple accolades, including eight All-Star selections and the TSN Guide MVP award. He was celebrated not only for his consistent performance at the plate but also for his leadership and tenacity on the field. Marion's legacy is particularly notable as he helped to solidify the shortstop position during a transformative period in baseball, bridging the gap between the game's earlier foundational years and the more modern approaches that followed. His career continues to be remembered by fans and historians alike for its significance in shaping the landscape of Major League Baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1572 | 5506 | 602 | 1448 | 272 | 37 | 36 | 624 | 35 | 470 | 537 | 0.263 | 0.323 | 0.345 | 0.668 | -5648.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | STL | NL | 125 | 435 | 44 | 121 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 46 | 9 | 21 | 34 | 0.278 | -857.8 |
| 1941 | STL | NL | 155 | 547 | 50 | 138 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 58 | 8 | 42 | 48 | 0.252 | -1289.2 |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 147 | 485 | 66 | 134 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 54 | 8 | 48 | 50 | 0.276 | 570.6 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 129 | 418 | 38 | 117 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 1 | 32 | 37 | 0.280 | 52.4 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 144 | 506 | 50 | 135 | 26 | 2 | 6 | 63 | 1 | 43 | 50 | 0.267 | 5.2 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 123 | 430 | 63 | 119 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 59 | 2 | 39 | 39 | 0.277 | 265.8 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 146 | 498 | 51 | 116 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 46 | 1 | 59 | 53 | 0.233 | -601.0 |
| 1947 | STL | NL | 149 | 540 | 57 | 147 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 74 | 3 | 49 | 58 | 0.272 | -426.6 |
| 1948 | STL | NL | 144 | 567 | 70 | 143 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 37 | 54 | 0.252 | -1607.4 |
| 1949 | STL | NL | 134 | 515 | 61 | 140 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 70 | 0 | 37 | 42 | 0.272 | -624.6 |
| 1950 | STL | NL | 106 | 372 | 36 | 92 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 44 | 55 | 0.247 | -971.5 |
| 1952 | SLA | AL | 67 | 186 | 16 | 46 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 17 | 0.247 | -164.5 |
| 1953 | SLA | AL | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 78 | 5 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 0.231 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS | SLN | 7 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0.250 |
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 6 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.227 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 5 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0.357 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 5 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.111 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1547 | 0 | 2986 | 4829 | 252 | 978 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | SLN | SS | 125 | 0 | 245 | 366 | 33 | 76 |
| 1941 | SLN | SS | 155 | 0 | 299 | 489 | 38 | 85 |
| 1942 | SLN | SS | 147 | 0 | 296 | 448 | 31 | 87 |
| 1943 | SLN | SS | 128 | 0 | 232 | 424 | 20 | 93 |
| 1944 | SLN | SS | 144 | 0 | 268 | 461 | 21 | 90 |
| 1945 | SLN | SS | 122 | 0 | 237 | 372 | 21 | 70 |
| 1946 | SLN | SS | 145 | 0 | 290 | 480 | 21 | 105 |
| 1947 | SLN | SS | 141 | 0 | 329 | 452 | 15 | 104 |
| 1948 | SLN | SS | 142 | 0 | 263 | 445 | 19 | 80 |
| 1949 | SLN | SS | 134 | 0 | 242 | 441 | 17 | 74 |
| 1950 | SLN | SS | 101 | 0 | 180 | 313 | 11 | 73 |
| 1952 | SLA | SS | 63 | 0 | 105 | 138 | 5 | 41 |
| 1953 | SLA | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 1555 |
Awards & Honors
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 28th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 69.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 190.0 | 336 | 7 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 20.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 81.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1941 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 8.0 | 336 | 0 |