Pepper Martin
Born: 2/29/1904 in Temple, OK, USA
Died: 3/5/1965 in McAlester, OK, USA
MLB Debut: 1928-04-16 | Final Game: 1944-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Johnny Leonard Roosevelt Martin
Biography
Pepper Martin, born in 1904, was a distinguished position player who made a significant impact on Major League Baseball during his career from 1928 until 1944. Known for his energetic playing style and versatility, Martin was a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1930s, a time when the team was solidifying its reputation as one of the league's powerhouses. Over the course of 1,189 games, he recorded 1,227 hits and achieved a commendable batting average of .298. His offensive contributions included 59 home runs and 501 RBIs, alongside 146 stolen bases, showcasing both his power and speed on the basepaths.
Martin's excellence on the field earned him four All-Star selections, reflecting his status among the elite players of his era. His ability to perform in clutch situations was particularly notable during the Cardinals' championships in the late 1930s, where he played a pivotal role in their success. As a player who thrived during an era characterized by fierce competition and dynamic play, Pepper Martin left an indelible mark on the game, remembered not only for his statistics but also for his spirited approach to baseball.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.600 | 0.600 | 1.400 | 2.000 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.600 | 0.600 | 1.400 | 2.000 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.25 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | STL | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | - |
| 1936 | STL | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1189 | 4117 | 754 | 1227 | 270 | 75 | 59 | 501 | 146 | 369 | 438 | 0.298 | 0.358 | 0.443 | 0.801 | 7049.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | STL | NL | 39 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.308 | 0.0 |
| 1930 | STL | NL | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1931 | STL | NL | 123 | 413 | 68 | 124 | 32 | 8 | 7 | 75 | 16 | 30 | 40 | 0.300 | 861.6 |
| 1932 | STL | NL | 85 | 323 | 47 | 77 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 34 | 9 | 30 | 31 | 0.238 | -545.2 |
| 1933 | STL | NL | 145 | 599 | 122 | 189 | 36 | 12 | 8 | 57 | 26 | 67 | 46 | 0.316 | 2399.2 |
| 1934 | STL | NL | 110 | 454 | 74 | 131 | 25 | 11 | 5 | 49 | 23 | 32 | 41 | 0.289 | 159.7 |
| 1935 | STL | NL | 135 | 539 | 121 | 161 | 41 | 6 | 9 | 54 | 20 | 33 | 58 | 0.299 | 605.4 |
| 1936 | STL | NL | 143 | 572 | 121 | 177 | 36 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 23 | 58 | 66 | 0.309 | 1349.6 |
| 1937 | STL | NL | 98 | 339 | 60 | 103 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 38 | 9 | 33 | 50 | 0.304 | 790.8 |
| 1938 | STL | NL | 91 | 269 | 34 | 79 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 4 | 18 | 34 | 0.294 | -44.6 |
| 1939 | STL | NL | 88 | 281 | 48 | 86 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 6 | 30 | 35 | 0.306 | 584.2 |
| 1940 | STL | NL | 86 | 228 | 28 | 72 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 6 | 22 | 24 | 0.316 | 635.0 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 40 | 86 | 15 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 0.279 | 254.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 55 | 14 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 0.418 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | WS | SLN | 7 | 31 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0.355 |
| 1931 | WS | SLN | 7 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0.500 |
| 1928 | WS | SLN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 429 | 0 | 393 | 715 | 87 | 44 |
| OF | 613 | 0 | 1299 | 59 | 37 | 14 |
| P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | SLN | OF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1931 | SLN | OF | 110 | 0 | 282 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 1932 | SLN | 3B | 15 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| 1932 | SLN | OF | 69 | 0 | 151 | 10 | 4 | 3 |
| 1933 | SLN | 3B | 145 | 0 | 139 | 273 | 25 | 14 |
| 1934 | SLN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1934 | SLN | 3B | 107 | 0 | 85 | 195 | 19 | 7 |
| 1935 | SLN | 3B | 114 | 0 | 113 | 171 | 30 | 17 |
| 1935 | SLN | OF | 16 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1936 | SLN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1936 | SLN | 3B | 15 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 1 |
| 1936 | SLN | OF | 127 | 0 | 226 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
| 1937 | SLN | 3B | 5 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937 | SLN | OF | 82 | 0 | 204 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| 1938 | SLN | 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | SLN | OF | 62 | 0 | 138 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1939 | SLN | 3B | 22 | 0 | 15 | 30 | 4 | 2 |
| 1939 | SLN | OF | 51 | 0 | 113 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1940 | SLN | OF | 63 | 0 | 103 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 1944 | SLN | OF | 29 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 2 |
| Third Base | 427 |
| Left Field | 37 |
| Center Field | 321 |
| Right Field | 265 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1935 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1935 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 33th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 10th | 16.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 31.0 | 80 | 0 |