Pepper Martin
Encyclopedia
Johnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin (February 29, 1904 – March 5, 1965) was an American
professional
baseball
player and minor league manager
. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning
abilities. Martin played in Major League Baseball
as a third baseman
and an outfielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals
during the 1930s and early 1940s. He was best known for his heroics during the 1931 World Series
, in which he was the catalyst in a Cardinals' upset victory over the Philadelphia Athletics
.
with his parents at the age of six where he grew up playing baseball. He began his professional baseball career at the age of 19 when he signed to play as a shortstop
in the Oklahoma State League for a team in Guthrie, Oklahoma. When the league folded in , his contract was sold to the Greenville Hunters
of the East Texas League
. In , he posted a .340 batting average in 98 games for the Hunters. He continued to post batting averages above the .300 mark and in , he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals to play for their affiliate, the Houston Buffaloes
. After hitting for a .306 average in 147 games with Houston, he earned a promotion to the major leagues.
Martin made his major league debut with the Cardinals on April 16, 1928
at the age of 24. He posted a .308 batting average in 39 games as a utility player
, as the Cardinals won the National League pennant. Martin made one appearance as a pinch runner
in the 1928 World Series
, as the Cardinals lost in four straight games to the New York Yankees
.
Martin was sent back to the Houston Buffaloes in January . His batting average dropped to .298 with Houston. However, the following season with the Rochester Red Wings
, his offensive statistics improved with 20 home run
s, a .363 batting average and a .631 slugging percentage, helping the Red Wings win the International League
title. The Red Wings then defeated the Louisville Colonels of the American Association
to win the Junior World Series
.
Martin's performance earned him a return to the major leagues with the Cardinals in 1931
. When veteran center fielder
Taylor Douthit
went into a hitting slump, Martin replaced him and played well enough that Cardinals' president, Branch Rickey
, would trade Douthit to the Cincinnati Reds in June. Martin impressed observers with his hustle in the outfield as well as on the base paths where he often slid into bases head-first. He ended the year with a .300 batting average along with 7 home runs and 75 runs batted in to help the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant
by 13 games over the New York Giants
.
was a rematch of the previous year's participants, pitting the Cardinals against the Philadelphia Athletics
. Led by Connie Mack
, the Athletics had won the previous two World Series and were heavily-favored to win for a third consecutive year. They featured a lineup that included five future National Baseball Hall of Fame members in Mickey Cochrane
, Jimmie Foxx
, Lefty Grove
, Waite Hoyt
and Al Simmons
.
In Game 1 held at Sportsman's Park
in St. Louis, Martin had three hits, including a double
, a stolen base
and drove in one run in a 6 to 2 loss to the ace of the Athletics staff, 31-game winner Lefty Grove. Martin proved to be the difference in Game 2 in what was otherwise a tight pitching duel between Bill Hallahan
of the Cardinals and George Earnshaw
for the Athletics. He scored the first run
of the game in the second inning by stretching a single
into a double when the ball was bobbled in the outfield, stealing third base, and then scoring on a sacrifice fly
. Martin added another run in the seventh inning when he hit a single, stole second base, took third base on a fielder's choice
, and then scored on a squeeze bunt
. Those would be the only runs of the game as Hallahan pitched a three-hit shutout
to even the series at one win apiece.
The series then moved to Shibe Park in Philadelphia for Game 3, where Martin had two hits, including a double and scored twice in a 5-2 Cardinals' victory over Grove. In Game 4, he produced the only two hits by the Cardinals as they lost to Earnshaw 3 to 0. Martin almost single-handedly provided the offense for the Cardinals in Game 5, driving home four runs with 2 singles, a home run and a sacrifice fly, as the Cardinals triumphed 5 to 1.
Although Martin was held hitless in the final two games of the series, he made an impressive catch to squelch an Athletics two-run rally in the ninth inning of Game 7 to end the game and clinch the world championship for the Cardinals. He set a World Series
record with 12 hits
including 4 doubles, 1 home run, 5 stolen bases and 5 runs batted in. Martin's .500 series batting average may have made the difference in the series outcome, as without him, the Cardinals batted for just a .205 team batting average. During the series, Martin was asked how he had learned to run so fast; he replied, "I grew up in Oklahoma, and once you start runnin' out there there ain't nothin' to stop you". Longtime major league manager, John McGraw
, described Martin's performance as "the greatest individual performance in the history of the World Series." In December, Martin was selected as male athlete of the year
by the Associated Press
.
, Dizzy Dean
and Joe Medwick
among others, became known as the Gashouse Gang
due to their boisterous activities on and off the field. He played the guitar in a hillbilly
band composed of Cardinals players named The Mudcat Band.
He experienced an injury-plagued season in 1932
, missing several weeks when he dislocated his shoulder in April and missed a month and a half when he broke a finger in July while sliding into home plate
. In August, Cardinals manager Gabby Street
converted Martin into a third baseman in an attempt to fill the gap left by the injured Sparky Adams
. Martin was not a naturally gifted third baseman, often fielding balls after having stopped them with his chest. He ended the season with a .238 batting average with 4 home runs and 34 runs batted in as the Cardinals fell to seventh place in the National League.
Martin rebounded from his injuries in 1933
, and was leading the league in hitting with a .363 batting average in the middle of June, earning him a starting role as the third baseman for the National League team in the inaugural Major League Baseball All-Star Game
held on July 6, 1933
. Now hitting as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter
, he finished the season ranked sixth in the league with a career-high .316 average and led the league with 122 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. Martin ranked tenth in the league with a .456 slugging percentage, and he had a career-high .387 on base percentage
along with 36 doubles, 12 triples
and 8 home runs as the Cardinals improved to a fifth place finish. He came in fifth place in the voting results for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Martin's batting average dropped to .289 in 1934
, but he once again led the league in stolen bases as the Cardinals rallied from seven games behind the New York Giants
in early September to win the National League pennant on the last day of the season. He made an appearance as a relief pitcher
on August 19, allowing one hit in two innings pitched. In a memorable 1934 World Series
against the Detroit Tigers
, the Cardinals were down 3 games to 2, before rebounding to win the final two games. The series was highlighted by several rough plays on the base paths that culminated in Game 7, when Joe Medwick made a rough slide into Tigers' third baseman Marv Owen
. The following inning, outraged Detroit fans pelted Medwick with debris when he assumed his defensive position in the outfield. The disturbance wasn't quelled until the umpires appealed to Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
, who had Medwick removed from the game. Martin ended the series with 11 hits for a .355 average, stole 2 bases and scored 8 runs in the series. He experienced difficulties in the field, committing 3 errors
in Game 4 and setting a World Series record with 4 errors overall.
While in a St. Louis hospital in December 1934, for a minor operation on his left arm, Martin insisted that he be entertained by a cowboy
musical group that he had hired. He created such a disturbance among the other patients that the hospital staff moved him to an isolated wing.
Although Martin had a good year offensively in 1935
, he continued to struggle defensively at third base. In the midst of a tight pennant race in July, he committed three costly errors in a loss to the New York Giants, and ended the year with 30 errors. He was hitting for a .333 average by mid-season to earn the starting third baseman's position in the 1935 All-Star Game
. For the season, he hit for a .299 average with 9 home runs and 54 runs batted in.
In October, Martin underwent surgery again, this time on his right arm. In January 1936, Branch Rickey asked Martin to curtail his extra-curricular activities. Already well known as a hunting and fishing enthusiast, Martin had taken up the hobby of midget car racing
and was also playing in football and basketball games during the winter months. He also became the vice-president and general manager of an Oklahoma City ice hockey team.
Martin moved back to the outfield, playing as the Cardinals' right fielder
in 1936
as the Cardinals battled the New York Giants for the National League title before settling for second place. He responded with a good year offensively, hitting for a .309 average with career-highs in home runs (11) and in runs batted in (76). Martin also led the National League in stolen bases with 23.
Although he continued to hit well, by 1937
, Martin was relegated to a part-time role, as his spirited, headlong style of play took its toll on his body. At the beginning of the 1939
season, he was named as the Cardinals' team captain, taking the job from Leo Durocher who had been traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers
. He experienced a resurgence, leading the team with a .340 batting average in June before a sprained wrist put him out of action for two weeks. He ended the season with a .306 batting average in 88 games, helping the Cardinals to finish second in the National League. Martin hit for a respectable .316 average in 1940
before the Cardinals named him as the player-manager of the Sacramento Solons
of the Pacific Coast League
in October.
Martin led Sacramento to a second place finish in before leading them to their first Pacific Coast League championship in 38 years in . He then became a player-manager for the Rochester Red Wings in . When professional baseball experienced a shortage of players during World War II
, Martin returned to the major leagues in 1944
with the Cardinals at the age of 40. In 40 games with the Cardinals, he posted a .279 batting average and an impressive .386 on base percentage to help the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant. Martin didn't appear in the 1944 World Series
, playing his final major league game on October 1, 1944.
, accumulating 1,227 hits
in 4,117 at bats for a .298 career batting average along with a .443 slugging percentage, 59 home runs, 501 runs batted in, 146 stolen bases and an on base percentage
of .358. He retired with a .973 career fielding percentage
in 613 games as an outfielder and a .927 fielding percentage in 429 games as a third baseman. A four-time All-Star, Martin's World Series career batting average of .418 is still a series record, and he is tied for tenth with 7 World Series stolen bases. He led the National League three times in stolen bases and once in runs scored. On May 5, 1933, Martin hit for the cycle
in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
at the Baker Bowl
.
of the Pacific Coast League in and before becoming the player-manager for the Greenville Spinners
of the South Atlantic League
in . His fiery, competitive spirit was still evident in July 1945 when it was reported that he had punched one of his players for not performing to his standards. While managing the Miami Sun Sox
of the Florida International League
in , he was fined and suspended for the remainder of the season for choking an umpire
. In August , he made news again when he was arrested after a Sun Sox game when he went into the stands to punch a spectator in Lakeland, Florida.
After being released by the Sun Sox, Martin was hired to manage the Miami Beach Flamingos of the Florida International League in . Despite leading them to a 103-49 record, the Flamigos finished the season one game behind his former team, the Sun Sox. In , he became the manager of the Fort Lauderdale Lions and led them to the Florida International League title. After spending the season as the manager for the Portsmouth Merrimacs, Martin was named as a coach
for the Chicago Cubs
in September . When the Cubs finished in last place in the 1956
season, manager Stan Hack
was fired and the new Cubs manager, Bob Scheffing
, asked for Martin's resignation along with the rest of the coaching staff. Martin returned to the minor leagues once again where he became a player-coach for the Tulsa Oilers
, playing his final game at the age of 54. He took his final field assignment as the manager of the Miami Marlins
in .
at McAlester, Oklahoma. Martin died on March 5, after suffering a heart attack. His wife, Ruby, survived him by over four decades, passing away just short of her 100th birthday in 2009. Martin was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and minor league 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...
. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
abilities. Martin played 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...
as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the 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...
during the 1930s and early 1940s. He was best known for his heroics during the 1931 World Series
1931 World Series
In the 1931 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Athletics in seven games, a rematch and reversal of fortunes of the 1930 World Series.The same two teams faced off during the 1930 World Series and the Athletics were victorious...
, in which he was the catalyst in a Cardinals' upset victory over the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Early career
Born in Temple, Oklahoma, Martin moved to Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
with his parents at the age of six where he grew up playing baseball. He began his professional baseball career at the age of 19 when he signed to play as a 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...
in the Oklahoma State League for a team in Guthrie, Oklahoma. When the league folded in , his contract was sold to the Greenville Hunters
Greenville Hunters
The Greenville Hunters were a Texas League , North Texas League and East Texas League baseball team based in Greenville, Texas. Pepper Martin played for them....
of the East Texas League
East Texas League
The East Texas League was a Texas-based league in minor league baseball that existed on-and-off from 1916 to 1950.-1916:In 1916, the first East Texas League began play. A Class-D league, it folded on July 19 of that season. The "league champions," by default, were the Palestine Athletics and Lufkin...
. In , he posted a .340 batting average in 98 games for the Hunters. He continued to post batting averages above the .300 mark and in , he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals to play for their affiliate, the Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
. After hitting for a .306 average in 147 games with Houston, he earned a promotion to the major leagues.
Martin made his major league debut with the Cardinals on April 16, 1928
1928 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 37th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 37th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-59 during the season and finished first in the National League...
at the age of 24. He posted a .308 batting average in 39 games as a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
, as the Cardinals won the National League pennant. Martin made one appearance as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
in the 1928 World Series
1928 World Series
In the 1928 World Series, the New York Yankees swept the St. Louis Cardinals in four games. Along with , this was the first time a team had swept consecutive Series....
, as the Cardinals lost in four straight games to the New York Yankees
1928 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1928 season was their 26th season. The team finished with a record of 101-53, winning their sixth pennant, finishing 2.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics. New York was managed by Miller Huggins. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they swept...
.
Martin was sent back to the Houston Buffaloes in January . His batting average dropped to .298 with Houston. However, the following season with the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, his offensive statistics improved with 20 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, a .363 batting average and a .631 slugging percentage, helping the Red Wings win the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
title. The Red Wings then defeated the Louisville Colonels of 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...
to win the Junior World Series
Junior World Series
The Junior World Series was the name given to a postseason series between champions of two of the three high-minor baseball leagues, modeled on the World Series of Major League Baseball...
.
Martin's performance earned him a return to the major leagues with the Cardinals in 1931
1931 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 50th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 40th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101-53 during the season and finished first in the National League...
. When veteran center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Taylor Douthit
Taylor Douthit
Taylor Lee Douthit , was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds from 1923 to 1933.-Career:...
went into a hitting slump, Martin replaced him and played well enough that Cardinals' president, Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
, would trade Douthit to the Cincinnati Reds in June. Martin impressed observers with his hustle in the outfield as well as on the base paths where he often slid into bases head-first. He ended the year with a .300 batting average along with 7 home runs and 75 runs batted in to help the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
by 13 games over the New York Giants
1931 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
.
World Series star
The 1931 World Series1931 World Series
In the 1931 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Athletics in seven games, a rematch and reversal of fortunes of the 1930 World Series.The same two teams faced off during the 1930 World Series and the Athletics were victorious...
was a rematch of the previous year's participants, pitting the Cardinals against the Philadelphia Athletics
1931 Philadelphia Athletics season
The Philadelphia Athletics season involved the A's finishing first in the American League with a record of 107 wins and 45 losses. It was the team's third consecutive pennant-winning season and its third consecutive season with over 100 wins. However, in a major upset, the A's lost the 1931 World...
. Led by Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, the Athletics had won the previous two World Series and were heavily-favored to win for a third consecutive year. They featured a lineup that included five future National Baseball Hall of Fame members in Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx
James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx , nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was a right-handed American Major League Baseball first baseman and noted power hitter....
, Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
, Waite Hoyt
Waite Hoyt
Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...
and Al Simmons
Al Simmons
Aloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
.
In Game 1 held at Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Martin had three hits, including a double
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....
, a 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...
and drove in one run in a 6 to 2 loss to the ace of the Athletics staff, 31-game winner Lefty Grove. Martin proved to be the difference in Game 2 in what was otherwise a tight pitching duel between Bill Hallahan
Bill Hallahan
William Anthony "Wild Bill" Hallahan was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s...
of the Cardinals and George Earnshaw
George Earnshaw
George "Moose" Earnshaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in parts of nine seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was the American League wins leader in 1929 with the A's...
for the Athletics. He scored the first run
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...
of the game in the second inning by stretching a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
into a double when the ball was bobbled in the outfield, stealing third base, and then scoring on a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
. Martin added another run in the seventh inning when he hit a single, stole second base, took third base on a fielder's choice
Fielder's choice
In baseball, fielder's choice is a term used to refer to a variety of plays involving an offensive player reaching a base due to the defense's attempt to put out another baserunner, or the defensive team's indifference to his advance...
, and then scored on a squeeze bunt
Squeeze play (baseball)
In baseball, the squeeze play is a maneuver consisting of a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball, expecting to be thrown out at first base, but providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score...
. Those would be the only runs of the game as Hallahan pitched a three-hit shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
to even the series at one win apiece.
The series then moved to Shibe Park in Philadelphia for Game 3, where Martin had two hits, including a double and scored twice in a 5-2 Cardinals' victory over Grove. In Game 4, he produced the only two hits by the Cardinals as they lost to Earnshaw 3 to 0. Martin almost single-handedly provided the offense for the Cardinals in Game 5, driving home four runs with 2 singles, a home run and a sacrifice fly, as the Cardinals triumphed 5 to 1.
Although Martin was held hitless in the final two games of the series, he made an impressive catch to squelch an Athletics two-run rally in the ninth inning of Game 7 to end the game and clinch the world championship for the Cardinals. He set a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
record with 12 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
including 4 doubles, 1 home run, 5 stolen bases and 5 runs batted in. Martin's .500 series batting average may have made the difference in the series outcome, as without him, the Cardinals batted for just a .205 team batting average. During the series, Martin was asked how he had learned to run so fast; he replied, "I grew up in Oklahoma, and once you start runnin' out there there ain't nothin' to stop you". Longtime major league manager, John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
, described Martin's performance as "the greatest individual performance in the history of the World Series." In December, Martin was selected as male athlete of the year
Associated Press Athlete of the Year
The first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press in 1931. At a time when women in sports were never given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
The Gashouse Gang
Martin, along with Cardinals teammates such as Leo DurocherLeo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
, Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
and Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
among others, became known as the Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
due to their boisterous activities on and off the field. He played the guitar in a hillbilly
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
band composed of Cardinals players named The Mudcat Band.
He experienced an injury-plagued season in 1932
1932 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 51st season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 41st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 72-82 during the season and finished 6th in the National League.- Offseason :...
, missing several weeks when he dislocated his shoulder in April and missed a month and a half when he broke a finger in July while sliding into home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. In August, Cardinals manager Gabby Street
Gabby Street
Charles Evard “Gabby” Street , also nicknamed "The Old Sarge", was an American catcher, manager, coach and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 20th century. As a catcher, he participated in one of the most publicized baseball stunts of the century's first decade....
converted Martin into a third baseman in an attempt to fill the gap left by the injured Sparky Adams
Sparky Adams
Earl John "Sparky" Adams was a professional Major League Baseball player who played with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds.-Chicago Cubs:...
. Martin was not a naturally gifted third baseman, often fielding balls after having stopped them with his chest. He ended the season with a .238 batting average with 4 home runs and 34 runs batted in as the Cardinals fell to seventh place in the National League.
Martin rebounded from his injuries in 1933
1933 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 52nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 42nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 82-71 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, and was leading the league in hitting with a .363 batting average in the middle of June, earning him a starting role as the third baseman for the National League team in the inaugural Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
held on July 6, 1933
1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the first playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the home...
. Now hitting as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
, he finished the season ranked sixth in the league with a career-high .316 average and led the league with 122 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. Martin ranked tenth in the league with a .456 slugging percentage, and he had a career-high .387 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
along with 36 doubles, 12 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....
and 8 home runs as the Cardinals improved to a fifth place finish. He came in fifth place in the voting results for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Martin's batting average dropped to .289 in 1934
1934 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 43rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-58 during the season and finished first in the National League...
, but he once again led the league in stolen bases as the Cardinals rallied from seven games behind the New York Giants
1934 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
in early September to win the National League pennant on the last day of the season. He made an appearance as a 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...
on August 19, allowing one hit in two innings pitched. In a memorable 1934 World Series
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
against the Detroit Tigers
1934 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The season was the team's 34th since entering the American League in . The Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 101-53, the best winning percentage in team history. The team made its fourth World Series appearance, but...
, the Cardinals were down 3 games to 2, before rebounding to win the final two games. The series was highlighted by several rough plays on the base paths that culminated in Game 7, when Joe Medwick made a rough slide into Tigers' third baseman Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
. The following inning, outraged Detroit fans pelted Medwick with debris when he assumed his defensive position in the outfield. The disturbance wasn't quelled until the umpires appealed to Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
, who had Medwick removed from the game. Martin ended the series with 11 hits for a .355 average, stole 2 bases and scored 8 runs in the series. He experienced difficulties in the field, committing 3 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in Game 4 and setting a World Series record with 4 errors overall.
While in a St. Louis hospital in December 1934, for a minor operation on his left arm, Martin insisted that he be entertained by a cowboy
Western music (North America)
Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...
musical group that he had hired. He created such a disturbance among the other patients that the hospital staff moved him to an isolated wing.
Although Martin had a good year offensively in 1935
1935 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 54th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 44th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 96-58 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League.- Offseason :...
, he continued to struggle defensively at third base. In the midst of a tight pennant race in July, he committed three costly errors in a loss to the New York Giants, and ended the year with 30 errors. He was hitting for a .333 average by mid-season to earn the starting third baseman's position in the 1935 All-Star Game
1935 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1935 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 3rd playing of the mid-summer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1935 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio the home of the...
. For the season, he hit for a .299 average with 9 home runs and 54 runs batted in.
In October, Martin underwent surgery again, this time on his right arm. In January 1936, Branch Rickey asked Martin to curtail his extra-curricular activities. Already well known as a hunting and fishing enthusiast, Martin had taken up the hobby of midget car racing
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
and was also playing in football and basketball games during the winter months. He also became the vice-president and general manager of an Oklahoma City ice hockey team.
Martin moved back to the outfield, playing as the Cardinals' right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in 1936
1936 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 55th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 45th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-67 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League.- Notable transactions :...
as the Cardinals battled the New York Giants for the National League title before settling for second place. He responded with a good year offensively, hitting for a .309 average with career-highs in home runs (11) and in runs batted in (76). Martin also led the National League in stolen bases with 23.
Although he continued to hit well, by 1937
1937 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 56th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 46th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 81-73 during the season and finished 4th in the National League.-Offseason:...
, Martin was relegated to a part-time role, as his spirited, headlong style of play took its toll on his body. At the beginning of the 1939
1939 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 58th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 48th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 92-61 during the season and finished 2nd in the National League.- Season summary :...
season, he was named as the Cardinals' team captain, taking the job from Leo Durocher who had been traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He experienced a resurgence, leading the team with a .340 batting average in June before a sprained wrist put him out of action for two weeks. He ended the season with a .306 batting average in 88 games, helping the Cardinals to finish second in the National League. Martin hit for a respectable .316 average in 1940
1940 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 59th season in St. Louis, Missouri and 49th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 84-69 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
before the Cardinals named him as the player-manager of the Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in October.
Martin led Sacramento to a second place finish in before leading them to their first Pacific Coast League championship in 38 years in . He then became a player-manager for the Rochester Red Wings in . When professional baseball experienced a shortage of players during 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...
, Martin returned to the major leagues in 1944
1944 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 63rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 53rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met their town rivals, the St. Louis Browns...
with the Cardinals at the age of 40. In 40 games with the Cardinals, he posted a .279 batting average and an impressive .386 on base percentage to help the Cardinals clinch the National League pennant. Martin didn't appear in the 1944 World Series
1944 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 4, 1944 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriGeorge McQuinn hit the Brown's only home run of the series to put his team ahead in the fourth inning, while Denny Galehouse outpitched World Series veteran Mort Cooper to hold on for the win.-Game 2:Thursday, October 5,...
, playing his final major league game on October 1, 1944.
Career statistics
In a thirteen-year major league career, Martin played in 1,189 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,227 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4,117 at bats for a .298 career batting average along with a .443 slugging percentage, 59 home runs, 501 runs batted in, 146 stolen bases and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .358. He retired with a .973 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in 613 games as an outfielder and a .927 fielding percentage in 429 games as a third baseman. A four-time All-Star, Martin's World Series career batting average of .418 is still a series record, and he is tied for tenth with 7 World Series stolen bases. He led the National League three times in stolen bases and once in runs scored. On May 5, 1933, Martin hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
in a game against the 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...
at the Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl
Baker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
.
Managing career
After the end of his major league career, Martin returned to the minor leagues, serving as a player-manager with the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
of the Pacific Coast League in and before becoming the player-manager for the Greenville Spinners
Greenville Spinners
The Greenville Spinners were a minor league baseball team located in Greenville, South Carolina.They played in the Carolina Association from 1908-1912, the South Atlantic League from 1919-1930, 1946-1950 and 1961-1962, the Palmetto League in 1931 and the Tri-State League from 1954-1955.The team had...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in . His fiery, competitive spirit was still evident in July 1945 when it was reported that he had punched one of his players for not performing to his standards. While managing the Miami Sun Sox
Miami Sun Sox
The Miami Sun Sox were a minor league baseball affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1949 and 1954. They played in the Florida International League and were based in Miami, Florida at Miami Stadium.-External links:**...
of the Florida International League
Florida International League
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL...
in , he was fined and suspended for the remainder of the season for choking an umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
. In August , he made news again when he was arrested after a Sun Sox game when he went into the stands to punch a spectator in Lakeland, Florida.
After being released by the Sun Sox, Martin was hired to manage the Miami Beach Flamingos of the Florida International League in . Despite leading them to a 103-49 record, the Flamigos finished the season one game behind his former team, the Sun Sox. In , he became the manager of the Fort Lauderdale Lions and led them to the Florida International League title. After spending the season as the manager for the Portsmouth Merrimacs, Martin was named as a 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...
for 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...
in September . When the Cubs finished in last place in the 1956
1956 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 27, 1955: 1955 rule 5 draft**Billy Muffett was drafted from the Cubs by the St. Louis Cardinals.**Vito Valentinetti was drafted by the Cubs from the Toronto Maple Leafs....
season, manager Stan Hack
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack , nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
was fired and the new Cubs manager, Bob Scheffing
Bob Scheffing
Robert Boden Scheffing was an American baseball player, coach, manager and front-office executive. Nicknamed "Grumpy," the native of Overland, Missouri is most often identified with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he played as a catcher , coached , and managed .Scheffing also spent 2½ years as...
, asked for Martin's resignation along with the rest of the coaching staff. Martin returned to the minor leagues once again where he became a player-coach for the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
, playing his final game at the age of 54. He took his final field assignment as the manager of the Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins (IL)
The Miami Marlins was the name of a Class AAA American minor league baseball franchise based in Miami, Florida, that played in the International League from 1956 through 1960.The Marlins were a transplanted version of the original Syracuse Chiefs...
in .
Later life
Before his death, he served briefly as the athletic director of the Oklahoma State PenitentiaryOklahoma State Penitentiary
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary is located in McAlester, Oklahoma, on . It is a prison of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Opened in 1908 with 50 inmates in makeshift facilities, today the prison holds more than 1,200 male offenders, the vast majority of which are maximum-security inmates...
at McAlester, Oklahoma. Martin died on March 5, after suffering a heart attack. His wife, Ruby, survived him by over four decades, passing away just short of her 100th birthday in 2009. Martin was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in .
See also
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
Source
- Barthel, Thomas, Pepper Martin: A Baseball Biography, McFarland Publishing Co. (ISBN#?)