Fred Martin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Fred Turner Martin was an American
pitcher
, coach
and scout in Major League Baseball
. Born in Williams, Oklahoma, Martin threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'1" (185 cm) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) during his active playing career.
Martin was one of a handful American Major League players who "jumped" to the then-outlaw Mexican League during the season. With the reserve clause
then binding players permanently to the U.S. teams who held their contracts, the insurgent Mexican League induced players such as Martin, Sal Maglie
, Mickey Owen
, Lou Klein
, Max Lanier
, Danny Gardella
and others to leave their clubs — in Martin's (Lanier's and Klein's) case, the pennant-contending but notoriously low-paying St. Louis Cardinals
— for greater riches south of the border. Martin, then almost 31, was in his first MLB campaign after years of toiling in the minors and World War II
service. He had appeared in six games for the 1946, title-bound Cards, winning two of three decisions and compiling an earned run average
of 4.08 in 28⅔ innings pitched. He, along with the other "jumpers," was then suspended by Commissioner of Baseball
Albert B. Chandler
. While the Mexican League raids of MLB stopped, and most of the American players soon attempted to rejoin "organized baseball" in the U.S., the bans remained in force until June 5, 1949. Martin and Lanier had filed a $2.5 million suit against baseball in an attempt to have the bans lifted.
Martin, nearly 34 at that point, returned to the Cardinals upon his reinstatement and posted a 6-0 mark with a 2.44 ERA in 70 innings for the remainder of . He then spent one final season in the National League
with the Cards, winning four of six decisions and posting a 5.12 ERA. Overall, Martin appeared in 57 career MLB games, won 12 games and lost only three, with an ERA of 3.78 in 162 innings pitched.
manager
and pitching coach
, largely in the Chicago Cubs
organization. He was a member of the Cubs' infamous College of Coaches
from 1961-65 and served as a minor league instructor for the Cubs (1966-75; 1977-78) and Detroit Tigers
(1976). He became especially famous as a proponent of the split-finger fastball
, which he taught to Cub farmhand Bruce Sutter
, who mastered it enough to become a dominant relief pitcher
in the 1970s and 1980s, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sutter's success focused industry-wide attention on Martin's expertise. In , former Cub shortstop
Don Kessinger
, named the playing manager of the Chicago White Sox
, asked him to be the Chisox' pitching coach, but Martin was ill with cancer
and served only a few months in the job. He died June 11 in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 63.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and scout in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Born in Williams, Oklahoma, Martin threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'1" (185 cm) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) during his active playing career.
Martin was one of a handful American Major League players who "jumped" to the then-outlaw Mexican League during the season. With the reserve clause
Reserve clause
The reserve clause is a term formerly employed in North American professional sports contracts. The reserve clause, contained in all standard player contracts, stated that, upon the contract's expiration the rights to the player were to be retained by the team to which he had been signed...
then binding players permanently to the U.S. teams who held their contracts, the insurgent Mexican League induced players such as Martin, Sal Maglie
Sal Maglie
Salvatore Anthony Maglie was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played from 1945-1958 for the New York Giants, Cleveland Indians, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. Maglie was known as "Sal the Barber", because he gave close shaves—that is, pitched inside to...
, Mickey Owen
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen was a catcher for St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Between 1937 and 1954, Owen played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox...
, Lou Klein
Lou Klein
Louis Frank Klein was an infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cleveland Indians, and the Philadelphia Athletics, but he was best known as one of the players that jumped to the Mexican League and was subsequently banned by Commissioner Happy Chandler for a five year span .Klein was the...
, Max Lanier
Max Lanier
Hubert Max Lanier was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He led the National League in earned run average in , and was the winning pitcher of the clinching game in the 1944 World Series against the crosstown St. Louis...
, Danny Gardella
Danny Gardella
Daniel Lewis Gardella was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals...
and others to leave their clubs — in Martin's (Lanier's and Klein's) case, the pennant-contending but notoriously low-paying St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
— for greater riches south of the border. Martin, then almost 31, was in his first MLB campaign after years of toiling in the minors and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service. He had appeared in six games for the 1946, title-bound Cards, winning two of three decisions and compiling an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.08 in 28⅔ innings pitched. He, along with the other "jumpers," was then suspended by Commissioner of Baseball
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
Albert B. Chandler
Happy Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
. While the Mexican League raids of MLB stopped, and most of the American players soon attempted to rejoin "organized baseball" in the U.S., the bans remained in force until June 5, 1949. Martin and Lanier had filed a $2.5 million suit against baseball in an attempt to have the bans lifted.
Martin, nearly 34 at that point, returned to the Cardinals upon his reinstatement and posted a 6-0 mark with a 2.44 ERA in 70 innings for the remainder of . He then spent one final season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with the Cards, winning four of six decisions and posting a 5.12 ERA. Overall, Martin appeared in 57 career MLB games, won 12 games and lost only three, with an ERA of 3.78 in 162 innings pitched.
Taught 'split-finger fastball'
However, he would have a long post-playing career as a scout, minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, largely in the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization. He was a member of the Cubs' infamous College of Coaches
College of Coaches
The College of Coaches was an unorthodox strategy employed by the Chicago Cubs in 1961 and 1962. After the Cubs finished 60-94 in 1960, their 14th straight second-division finish, Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley announced in December 1960 that the Cubs would no longer have a manager, but would be led by...
from 1961-65 and served as a minor league instructor for the Cubs (1966-75; 1977-78) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1976). He became especially famous as a proponent of the split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, which he taught to Cub farmhand Bruce Sutter
Bruce Sutter
Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter....
, who mastered it enough to become a dominant relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the 1970s and 1980s, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Sutter's success focused industry-wide attention on Martin's expertise. In , former Cub shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger
Donald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
, named the playing manager of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, asked him to be the Chisox' pitching coach, but Martin was ill with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and served only a few months in the job. He died June 11 in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 63.