Stu Martin
Encyclopedia
Stuart McGuire Martin was a second baseman
in Major League Baseball
. He played from 1936 to 1943.
and attended Guilford College
. He began his professional baseball career in the St. Louis Cardinals
organization in 1934. The following season, he hit .338 in the Piedmont League
. He was brought up to the major league club in 1936.
Martin platooned with Frankie Frisch
in his rookie season and hit .298, with career-highs in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was named to the National League
All-Star
team.
Martin continued to play semi-regularly for St. Louis for the rest of the decade. However, in 1940 his batting numbers declined, and he was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates
after the season. He played parts of two seasons there. In 1943, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs
and played a few games for them. Then, he served in the United States Navy
for three years.
Martin returned to professional baseball in 1946. He played in the Pacific Coast League
for one season and finished his career with two seasons in the Coastal Plain League
.
Martin died in Severn, North Carolina
at the age of 84.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
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...
. He played from 1936 to 1943.
Biography
Martin was born in Rich Square, North CarolinaRich Square, North Carolina
Rich Square is a town in Northampton County, North Carolina, United States of America . The population was 931 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and attended Guilford College
Guilford College
Guilford College, founded in 1837 by members of the Religious Society of Friends , is an independent college whose stated mission is to: provide a transformative, practical and excellent liberal arts education that produces critical thinkers in an inclusive, diverse environment, guided by Quaker...
. He began his professional baseball career in 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...
organization in 1934. The following season, he hit .338 in the Piedmont League
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
. He was brought up to the major league club in 1936.
Martin platooned with Frankie Frisch
Frankie Frisch
Francis “Frankie” Frisch , nicknamed the "Fordham Flash" or "The Old Flash", was a German American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century....
in his rookie season and hit .298, with career-highs in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was named to 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...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team.
Martin continued to play semi-regularly for St. Louis for the rest of the decade. However, in 1940 his batting numbers declined, and he was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
after the season. He played parts of two seasons there. In 1943, he was traded to 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...
and played a few games for them. Then, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for three years.
Martin returned to professional baseball in 1946. He played in 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...
for one season and finished his career with two seasons in the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League (Class D)
The Coastal Plain League was a minor league baseball affiliation which, except for the war years , operated in North Carolina from 1937 to 1952. It was classified as a "D" league. It grew out of a semi-pro league that operated from 1934 to 1936 under the same Coastal Plain League name.- Coastal...
.
Martin died in Severn, North Carolina
Severn, North Carolina
Severn is a town in Northampton County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 263 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Severn is located at ....
at the age of 84.
External links
- Stu Martin at Find-a-Grave