Jack Martin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
John Christopher Martin was an infielder
in Major League Baseball
, playing mainly at shortstop
for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 9", 159 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
A native of Plainfield, New Jersey
, Martin entered the majors in 1912 as the regular shortstop for the Yankees
, when they were known as the New York Highlanders. In 1914 he divided his playing time between the Boston Braves
and Philadelphia Phillies
.
In a three-year career, Martin was a .237 hitter (144-for-608) with 66 runs
and 43 RBI
in 187 games, including 13 doubles
, four triples
, 20 stolen base
s, and a .323 on-base percentage without home run
s.
Following his playing retirement, Martin became a manager
and coach
in the minor leagues
. He managed Jim Thorpe when Thorpe played for the 1916 Milwaukee Brewers
in the American Association
.
In 1954 Martin moved to Brick Township, New Jersey, where he lived out his twilight years. He was well known and beloved and was known for helping his neighbors. In 1978 was honored by the Brick Township council for being an inspiration to youth, as the Jack Martin Boulevard is named after him.
Martin suffered two heart attacks just after being introduced at the 34th annual New York Yankees Old-Timers' Day
, which was celebrated on June 21, 1980. He died 13 days later after having been admitted to Montefiore Hospital
in The Bronx
, New York
. At the time of his death, at age 93, Martin was the oldest living former Yankees and Phillies player.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
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...
, playing mainly at 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...
for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 9", 159 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
A native of Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
, Martin entered the majors in 1912 as the regular shortstop for the Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, when they were known as the New York Highlanders. In 1914 he divided his playing time between the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
In a three-year career, Martin was a .237 hitter (144-for-608) with 66 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 43 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 187 games, including 13 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 20 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and a .323 on-base percentage without home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s.
Following his playing retirement, Martin became a 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 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...
in the minor leagues
Minor 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...
. He managed Jim Thorpe when Thorpe played for the 1916 Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
.
In 1954 Martin moved to Brick Township, New Jersey, where he lived out his twilight years. He was well known and beloved and was known for helping his neighbors. In 1978 was honored by the Brick Township council for being an inspiration to youth, as the Jack Martin Boulevard is named after him.
Martin suffered two heart attacks just after being introduced at the 34th annual New York Yankees Old-Timers' Day
Old-Timers' Day
Old-Timers' Day generally refers to a tradition in Major League Baseball of a team, especially the New York Yankees, devoting the early afternoon preceding a weekend late afternoon game to celebrate the baseball-related accomplishments of its former players who have since retired...
, which was celebrated on June 21, 1980. He died 13 days later after having been admitted to Montefiore Hospital
Montefiore Medical Center
Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx, New York, is the University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The hospital, named for Moses Montefiore, is one of the 50 largest employers in New York State . In 2011, Montefiore Medical Center was ranked as #6 of the 180 New York City...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. At the time of his death, at age 93, Martin was the oldest living former Yankees and Phillies player.
Chronology
- May 25, 1912 - During the first game of a double-header at Hilltop ParkHilltop ParkHilltop Park was the nickname of a baseball park that formerly stood in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. It was the home of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club during 1903-1912 when they were known more often as the "Highlanders"...
, Martin was hit by a pitchHit by pitchIn baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
twice by Washington SenatorsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
pitcher Walter JohnsonWalter JohnsonWalter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
. The second time he had his jaw shattered by a fastballFastballThe fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and, eventually, was out of action for five weeks. Johnson‚ who consciously avoided throwing at batters nevertheless hit 205 batters in his illustrious career.
See also
- 1912 New York Highlanders season1912 New York Highlanders seasonThe New York Highlanders season was their tenth in New York and their twelfth overall. It was the final season for the "Highlanders", before evolving exclusively into the "Yankees". It was also their final season playing their home games at Hilltop Park. The team finished with a total of 50 wins...
- 1914 Boston Braves season1914 Boston Braves seasonThe 1914 Boston Braves was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the National League, winning the pennant by 10½ games over the New York Giants...
- 1914 Philadelphia Phillies season1914 Philadelphia Phillies season- Offseason :* December, 1913: Doc Miller was purchased from the Phillies by the Cincinnati Reds.* Prior to 1914 season: Vern Duncan jumped from the Phillies to the Baltimore Terrapins.- Roster :- Starters by position :...