Marty Marion, Cardinals Legend, Passes at 94 | Baseball Digest

Marty Marion, Cardinals Legend, Passes at 94 | Baseball Digest

Marty Marion was one of the best shortstops in the game during his 13 year career, one that included three World Series titles. According to SI’s Jon Heyman, Marion passed away earlier today at age 94.

Marion played in an era when shortstops were known for their gloves and not their bats, unlike the last decade’s breed of power hitting middle men. In a time before Gold Glove Awards, Marion topped shortstops in fielding percentage four times. But Marion was a decent hitter too. He captured the 1944 NL MVP award after batting .267-6-63 with 43 walks. He was one of the catalysts of a Cardinals team that won the World Series in 1942, 1943, and 1946 (also won the 1944 NL pennant).

You can read more about the Cardinals great shortstop in this classic Baseball Digest piece. Click here to read all about it.

Marion retired after the 1950 season as a seven time All-Star and took over as the Cardinals manager, but was let go at the end of the season. He then came out of retirement as player-manager of the St. Louis Browns for two seasons, before calling it quits as a player. Marion took over the White Sox for nine games in 1954 and managed Chicago for two more seasons before retiring from baseball.

It’s a widely held notion that Marion has been overlooked by first the BBWAA and then the Veteran’s Committtee for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Though he played a portion of his career when some of the best players were at war, Marion was still one of the best in the game at his position and should be enshrined. It’s just too bad he won’t be around to see that day come.