Marty McManus
Encyclopedia
Martin Joseph "Marty" McManus (March 14, 1900–February 18, 1966) was a Major League Baseball
infielder
who played principally as a second baseman
(927 games) and third baseman
(725 games).
. He hit a triple in his first MLB game and became a regular player for the Browns from 1921-1926. Known for his speed and hitting, McManus hit 90 or more RBIs for the Browns in three season, including a career high 109 in 1922. McManus also led the American League
in doubles
in with 44. His best season with St. Louis was 1924 when he hit .333 with a .409 on base percentage. He finished in the Top 20 in the American League MVP voting twice with the Browns, finishing 15th in 1923 and 18th in 1926.
McManus also pulled off the hidden ball trick
in his last season with the Browns. On June 30, 1926, with Ty Cobb
coaching third base, McManus caught Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann
with a hidden ball trick.
in a six-player deal. McManus played five season for the Tigers from 1927-1931. His best season with Detroit was 1930, when he hit .320 with a .396 on base percentage and a .475 slugging percentage. He also led the American League in stolen bases in 1930 with 23. In July 1929, hit two grand slams in three days for the Tigers.
McManus also developed into a solid third baseman during his years in Detroit. In 1930, he led American League third basemen in putouts (152), double plays (23), and fielding percentage (.966). He had 206 putouts at 3rd base in 1929—a total that has not been exceeded since that year by any Detroit third baseman (including Marv Owen
, Pinky Higgins
, George Kell
, Don Wert
, Aurelio Rodríguez
, Travis Fryman
, or Brandon Inge
).
for Muddy Ruel
. After the 1931 campaign, he played two more seasons with the Red Sox from 1932-1933.
On June 19, 1932, the Red Sox—mired in last place—named McManus as the manager after Shano Collins
resigned. After a decade at the bottom of the American League, the Red Sox did not fare much better under McManus. They finished in last place in 1932 and in 7th place in 1933.
McManus was released by the Red Sox at the end of the 1933 season and played the for the crosstown Boston Braves
. McManus played only one year for the Braves, before being released on December 6, 1934.
McManus married Mary Barton in 1934 in South Bend, Indiana
.
During the years 1944 to 1948 Marty was manager of the South Bend Blue Sox
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
and did a short stint in 1947 with the Denver Bears of the Western League
.
McManus died in Florissant, Missouri
at age 65.
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...
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...
who played principally as a second baseman
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...
(927 games) and 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...
(725 games).
St. Louis Browns: 1920-1926
Born in Chicago, the son of Irish immigrants (Martin J. and Kate McManus), McManus began his MLB career in the final week of the season, playing in a single game for the St. Louis BrownsBaltimore 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...
. He hit a triple in his first MLB game and became a regular player for the Browns from 1921-1926. Known for his speed and hitting, McManus hit 90 or more RBIs for the Browns in three season, including a career high 109 in 1922. McManus also led the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in 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....
in with 44. His best season with St. Louis was 1924 when he hit .333 with a .409 on base percentage. He finished in the Top 20 in the American League MVP voting twice with the Browns, finishing 15th in 1923 and 18th in 1926.
McManus also pulled off the hidden ball trick
Hidden ball trick
In the game of baseball, the hidden ball trick is a play in which the runner is deceived about the location of the ball, in an effort to have him tagged out.-Execution:...
in his last season with the Browns. On June 30, 1926, with Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
coaching third base, McManus caught Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...
with a hidden ball trick.
Detroit Tigers: 1927-1931
On January 15, , McManus was traded to the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in a six-player deal. McManus played five season for the Tigers from 1927-1931. His best season with Detroit was 1930, when he hit .320 with a .396 on base percentage and a .475 slugging percentage. He also led the American League in stolen bases in 1930 with 23. In July 1929, hit two grand slams in three days for the Tigers.
McManus also developed into a solid third baseman during his years in Detroit. In 1930, he led American League third basemen in putouts (152), double plays (23), and fielding percentage (.966). He had 206 putouts at 3rd base in 1929—a total that has not been exceeded since that year by any Detroit third baseman (including 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 ....
, Pinky Higgins
Pinky Higgins
Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins was an American third baseman, manager, front office executive and scout in Major League Baseball who played for three teams and served as manager or general manager of the Boston Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing...
, George Kell
George Kell
George Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
, Don Wert
Don Wert
Donald Ralph Wert , nicknamed "Coyote", is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1963 to 1970 and also briefly played for the Washington Senators in 1971...
, Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
, Travis Fryman
Travis Fryman
David Travis Fryman is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and shortstop, and currently a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians farm system...
, or Brandon Inge
Brandon Inge
Charles Brandon Inge is an American professional baseball infielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
).
Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves: 1931-1934
On August 31, , the Tigers traded McManus to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Muddy Ruel
Muddy Ruel
Herold Dominic "Muddy" Ruel was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and general manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons with the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and the Chicago White Sox...
. After the 1931 campaign, he played two more seasons with the Red Sox from 1932-1933.
On June 19, 1932, the Red Sox—mired in last place—named McManus as the manager after Shano Collins
Shano Collins
John Francis "Shano" Collins was an American right fielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox....
resigned. After a decade at the bottom of the American League, the Red Sox did not fare much better under McManus. They finished in last place in 1932 and in 7th place in 1933.
McManus was released by the Red Sox at the end of the 1933 season and played the for the crosstown 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....
. McManus played only one year for the Braves, before being released on December 6, 1934.
McManus married Mary Barton in 1934 in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
.
During the years 1944 to 1948 Marty was manager of the South Bend Blue Sox
South Bend Blue Sox
The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
and did a short stint in 1947 with the Denver Bears of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
.
McManus died in Florissant, Missouri
Florissant, Missouri
Florissant is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city has a total population of 52,158 in 2010 census.-History:...
at age 65.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
External links
- Marty McManus at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...