Fred Marsh
Encyclopedia
Fred Francis Marsh was an American
infielder
in Major League Baseball
who played from to for the Cleveland Indians
, St. Louis Browns
, Washington Senators
, Chicago White Sox
and Baltimore Orioles
, primarily as a third baseman
.
He was 5'10" tall and weighed 180 pounds.
Born in Valley Falls, Kansas
, Marsh was signed originally by the Chicago Cubs
in after graduating from Chicago
's Steinmetz High School in 1941. Marsh joined the Navy
during World War II
and was discharged in 1945.
He made his big league debut on April 19, 1949 at the age of 25 for the Indians, to whom he'd been sent in an unknown transaction before the 1947 season. He appeared in only one game that year, as a pinch runner.
He did not play any major league ball in 1950. In , he appeared in 130 games for the St. Louis Browns, who received him and $35,000 for Snuffy Stirnweiss
and Merl Combs
in a trade with the Indians on April 1 of that year. He hit .243 with four home runs, 21 doubles and 43 RBI in 445 at bats that season, walking 36 times and striking out 56 times. 1951 would end up being the only season in which he appeared in 100 or more games.
was an interesting season for Marsh. He started the season with the Browns, but on May 12 was traded with Lou Sleater
to the Washington Senators
for Cass Michaels
. Less than one month later, the Senators traded him back to the Browns for Earl Rapp
.
Marsh had started off poorly with the Browns that year, hitting only .208 in his first 11 games, thus prompting his trade to the Senators. He did even worse with the Senators though, appearing in nine games with them and batting only .087. His second turn with the Browns that year proved to be much more successful - in 76 games, he hit .287 with two home runs and 26 RBI. Overall that year, he hit .258 with two home runs, 28 RBI and 29 runs scored.
On January 20, 1953, he was traded to the White Sox for Dixie Upright
and $25,000. His first year with the White Sox was rather bumpy, as he hit only .200 in 98 at-bats with them (62 games). He had a relatively good year in with them, playing in 62 games and hitting .306. His success that year did not keep him in Chicago though, as he was traded with Matt Batts
, Don Ferrarese
, and Don Johnson to the Orioles for Jim Brideweser
, Bob Chakales
, and Clint Courtney
on December 6.
In , Marsh played in 89 games, collecting 66 hits in 303 at bats for a .218 average. He showed a great eye at the plate that year, walking 35 times while striking out only 33 times. He missed nearly half of the season with a broken elbow and a leg injury.
would end up being his final big league season. He collected only three hits in 24 at bats that year, for a .125 average. He played his final game on May 29 of that year.
Overall, Marsh hit .239 in 465 games in his career. He collected 296 hits in 1236 at bats, with 43 of those hits being doubles, eight of them triples and 10 of them home runs. He scored 146 runs and drove in 96. He was a good basestealer in terms of percentage, as he was only caught once in 14 attempts - a 92.9% success rate. He had a good eye at the plate as well, walking 125 times and striking out only 171 times.
He had a .948 career fielding percentage. Statistically, the player he is most similar to is Ken Hamlin
.
After his baseball career, he spent many years as a postal carrier.
After his death in Corry, Pennsylvania
at the age of 82, he was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery
in Corry.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
infielder
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...
who played from to for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The 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...
, 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...
and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, primarily 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...
.
He was 5'10" tall and weighed 180 pounds.
Born in Valley Falls, Kansas
Valley Falls, Kansas
Valley Falls is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,192. Valley Falls is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Marsh was signed originally by 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 after graduating from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Steinmetz High School in 1941. Marsh joined the 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...
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...
and was discharged in 1945.
He made his big league debut on April 19, 1949 at the age of 25 for the Indians, to whom he'd been sent in an unknown transaction before the 1947 season. He appeared in only one game that year, as a pinch runner.
He did not play any major league ball in 1950. In , he appeared in 130 games for the St. Louis Browns, who received him and $35,000 for Snuffy Stirnweiss
Snuffy Stirnweiss
George Henry "Snuffy" Stirnweiss was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , Stirnweiss played for the New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns and Cleveland Indians...
and Merl Combs
Merl Combs
Merrill Russell "Merl" Combs was a backup shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians . Combs batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
in a trade with the Indians on April 1 of that year. He hit .243 with four home runs, 21 doubles and 43 RBI in 445 at bats that season, walking 36 times and striking out 56 times. 1951 would end up being the only season in which he appeared in 100 or more games.
was an interesting season for Marsh. He started the season with the Browns, but on May 12 was traded with Lou Sleater
Lou Sleater
Louis Mortimer Sleater is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1950 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1958 for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles. He was 5’10” and he weighed 185 pounds...
to the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The 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...
for Cass Michaels
Cass Michaels
Casimir Eugene Michaels was a Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Detroit, Michigan as Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski, and was primarily a second baseman throughout his career, though he was also a third baseman and shortstop for a time.Under his real name, Michaels was signed to a...
. Less than one month later, the Senators traded him back to the Browns for Earl Rapp
Earl Rapp
Earl Wellington "Rappy" Rapp was a 6'2", 185 pound Major League Baseball outfielder who played in 1949 and from 1951 to 1952 for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, St...
.
Marsh had started off poorly with the Browns that year, hitting only .208 in his first 11 games, thus prompting his trade to the Senators. He did even worse with the Senators though, appearing in nine games with them and batting only .087. His second turn with the Browns that year proved to be much more successful - in 76 games, he hit .287 with two home runs and 26 RBI. Overall that year, he hit .258 with two home runs, 28 RBI and 29 runs scored.
On January 20, 1953, he was traded to the White Sox for Dixie Upright
Dixie Upright
R. T. "Dixie" Upright is a former left-handed, 6'0", 175 pound Major League Baseball player who played for the St...
and $25,000. His first year with the White Sox was rather bumpy, as he hit only .200 in 98 at-bats with them (62 games). He had a relatively good year in with them, playing in 62 games and hitting .306. His success that year did not keep him in Chicago though, as he was traded with Matt Batts
Matt Batts
Matthew Daniel Batts was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Batts batted and threw right-handed...
, Don Ferrarese
Don Ferrarese
Donald Hugh "Midget" Ferrarese is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1962 with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. A left-handed thrower, he threw right-handed. An attendant of St...
, and Don Johnson to the Orioles for Jim Brideweser
Jim Brideweser
James Ehrenfeld Brideweser was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from to for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers...
, Bob Chakales
Bob Chakales
Robert Edwards Chakales [sha-kuh'-les] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with four different clubs between the 1951 and 1957 seasons. Listed at 6'1", 185 lb., Chakales batted and threw right-handed...
, and Clint Courtney
Clint Courtney
Clinton Dawdson Courtney was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Courtney batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
on December 6.
In , Marsh played in 89 games, collecting 66 hits in 303 at bats for a .218 average. He showed a great eye at the plate that year, walking 35 times while striking out only 33 times. He missed nearly half of the season with a broken elbow and a leg injury.
would end up being his final big league season. He collected only three hits in 24 at bats that year, for a .125 average. He played his final game on May 29 of that year.
Overall, Marsh hit .239 in 465 games in his career. He collected 296 hits in 1236 at bats, with 43 of those hits being doubles, eight of them triples and 10 of them home runs. He scored 146 runs and drove in 96. He was a good basestealer in terms of percentage, as he was only caught once in 14 attempts - a 92.9% success rate. He had a good eye at the plate as well, walking 125 times and striking out only 171 times.
He had a .948 career fielding percentage. Statistically, the player he is most similar to is Ken Hamlin
Ken Hamlin (baseball)
Kenneth Lee Hamlin is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop/second baseman. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent on June 3, 1957 and played for the Pirates , Kansas City Athletics , Los Angeles Angels , and Washington Senators .Hamlin made his major...
.
After his baseball career, he spent many years as a postal carrier.
After his death in Corry, Pennsylvania
Corry, Pennsylvania
Corry is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. With a population of 6,834 at the 2000 United States Census, it is the second largest city in Erie County. Corry is a part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area...
at the age of 82, he was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery
Pine Grove Cemetery (Corry, Pennsylvania)
Pine Grove Cemetery is a cemetery located in Corry, Pennsylvania. One person of note interred there is Fred Marsh, a baseball player.-External links:*...
in Corry.