Morrie Martin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Morris Webster “Morrie” Martin might not be as famous as Mickey Mantle, but there’s a lot more to this left-handed pitcher than just baseball stats. Martin played ten seasons in Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1959, appearing in 250 games for seven different teams including the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Athletics, and Chicago White Sox.

He finished his career with 38 wins and 34 losses, but that record barely scratches the surface of his story. Martin started out in rural Missouri, and his journey even took him through the chaos of World War II.

What really makes Martin’s story stand out? He faced some wild odds and still made it to the majors. Before he ever threw a pitch in organized ball, he served as a combat engineer during World War II. He survived D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and got hurt more than once—injuries that almost ended his hopes for baseball.

In 1945, a serious leg wound nearly cost him his leg. A nurse who realized he was a ballplayer stepped in, and that intervention saved both his leg and his future in baseball.

Let’s dig into Martin’s life and see how a farm kid from Dixon, Missouri, turned a knack for throwing rocks at rabbits into a legit pro baseball career. He started with the Chicago White Sox organization and wrapped up with the Chicago Cubs in 1959. His journey is a mix of military heroics, athletic grit, and a stubborn refusal to quit, even when most people would’ve given up.

Early Life and Background

Morris Webster “Morrie” Martin was born on September 3, 1922, in Dixon, Missouri. He grew up during the Great Depression, working on his family’s farm.

His childhood was tough, with money always tight and the family moving a lot as they searched for work across central Missouri.

Family and Childhood in Dixon

Morrie Martin was the fourth of seven kids. Levi and Minnie Martin, his parents, tried to keep things together, with Levi working as a carpenter and farm hand.

They moved around a lot, always chasing better jobs. Even before the Depression, the Martins struggled, and Levi’s jobs didn’t pay much.

The family got creative to make ends meet. Young Morrie learned to hunt wild rabbits, throwing rocks in the fields to catch dinner.

He also loved fishing, often using grasshoppers for bait. Whatever he caught, he brought home to help feed everyone.

Those early hunting and fishing trips made Morrie a lifelong outdoorsman.

Education and Early Employment

Martin’s schooling stopped after eighth grade because of the family’s financial struggles. At fifteen, he lied about his age and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Depression.

His older brother Bill worked for the CCC too, so the two of them teamed up on construction projects around the region.

Morrie’s work with the CCC included building things and doing conservation projects. That hands-on experience helped prepare him for his later role as a combat engineer in the Army.

Discovery as a Young Pitcher

When he joined the CCC, Morrie also started playing baseball for local teams in central Missouri. People noticed right away that he could really throw from the left side.

In 1940, Wally Schang—a former big league catcher—showed up at a game in Rolla, Missouri, and saw Martin pitching for the Dixon town team. Schang had caught for the World Champion Philadelphia Athletics back in 1913.

Schang liked what he saw and told the Chicago White Sox about Martin. The Sox invited Morrie to a tryout in Leesburg, Florida, in 1941.

He did well at the tryout, so the White Sox signed him to his first pro contract. They sent him to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to play in the Northern League, and that’s where his pro baseball journey kicked off.

Military Service and World War II

World War II interrupted Martin’s baseball career. He served with the 49th Engineer Combat Battalion from December 1942 to December 1945.

His military service took him to North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. He landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day, fought at the Battle of the Bulge, and got wounded badly—almost losing his leg.

Combat Engineer Missions

Martin joined the Army on December 28, 1942, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. They assigned him to the 49th Engineer Combat Battalion, a unit that handled amphibious landings and built stuff under fire.

The engineers had a tough job. They cleared obstacles, built bridges, and opened up paths for the troops.

Martin’s battalion worked in both the Mediterranean and European theaters. That meant they were often right in the thick of things, sometimes under direct enemy fire.

Operation Torch and Normandy Landings

Martin took part in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa in late 1942. That campaign was his first taste of real combat, as American forces moved into Morocco and Algeria.

The battalion later helped invade Sicily in 1943. Those Mediterranean battles got them ready for the big one—Normandy.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Martin hit Omaha Beach with the 49th Engineer Combat Battalion. They faced brutal resistance as they cleared obstacles and set up supply routes for the Allied push.

Battles of St. Lo, Remagen, and Recognition

Martin’s unit joined in Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy near St. Lo in July 1944. That move helped the Americans finally push through German lines in France.

Later, the battalion helped capture the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine in March 1945. That crossing gave the Allies a vital entry into Germany.

During the fighting in Germany, an enemy shell hit the house where Martin was stationed. He got buried alive, but he and two other soldiers dug themselves out and made it back to their unit.

Recovery with Penicillin

At the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, Martin got shot in the thigh. The wound got infected with gangrene, and doctors almost amputated his leg.

Doctors gave him over 150 shots of penicillin to stop the infection. Penicillin was still pretty new at the time, but it saved his leg—and his baseball career.

He needed a long time to recover, so he didn’t get back to professional baseball right away. Martin left the Army in December 1945 and went home to Washington, Missouri, before picking up baseball again in 1946.

He earned multiple Purple Hearts for his injuries. The shrapnel and bullet wounds stuck with him, but he never let them keep him off the mound.

Professional Baseball Career Beginnings

Morrie Martin’s pro baseball story really started during World War II, when Wally Schang noticed his pitching talent. Martin signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1941 and made a splash in the Northern League, but military service pulled him away from 1943 to 1945.

Signing with the Chicago White Sox

Martin got his shot at pro baseball in 1940, thanks to Wally Schang, who saw him pitch for the Dixon town team in Rolla, Missouri. Schang told the White Sox about him.

The White Sox invited Martin, a young lefty, to a tryout in Leesburg, Florida, in 1941. He impressed them and signed his first pro contract at just 18.

They sent him to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to play in the Northern League. That was the start of his 17-year run in pro baseball.

Minor League Tenure and Performance

Martin’s first season in 1941 with Grand Forks was something else. He went 16-7, pitched 193 innings, and led the Northern League with a 2.05 ERA.

His 16 wins that year were the most he’d ever get in a single season. He proved right away that he could handle pro ball.

The Chicago White Sox bumped him up to the St. Paul Saints in the American Association for 1942. But things didn’t go as well at the higher level.

Martin pitched only 71 innings for St. Paul that year, finishing with a 1-4 record and a 4.69 ERA. That was a big drop from his rookie season.

Return from Military Service

After World War II, Martin picked up his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers’ organization in 1946. He hadn’t even touched a baseball during those three years in the Army.

He joined the Ashville Tourists in the class B Tri State League for his comeback season. Even after all that time away, he went 14-6 with a 2.71 ERA in 173 innings.

His successful comeback proved his war injuries hadn’t ended his pitching career. Martin kept moving up in the Dodgers’ farm system under Branch Rickey.

In 1947, he split time between Danville in the Three I League and the St. Paul Saints in the American Association. He returned to St. Paul full-time in 1948, going 13-11 with a 4.16 ERA in 186 innings.

Major League Highlights and Accomplishments

Morrie Martin pitched for seven teams over ten seasons from 1949 to 1959. He finished with a 38-34 record in 250 games. His best moments included his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and a standout season with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1951.

Brooklyn Dodgers Debut

Martin debuted in the majors on April 25, 1949, at Ebbets Field against the Boston Braves. He threw seven innings, allowing three runs—a quality start—against the defending National League champs.

Even with that solid outing, Martin took the loss in a 4-0 game to Braves pitcher Bill Voiselle. He did pick up his first big league hit, a single in two at-bats.

Martin got his first major league win on May 5, 1949, coming in as a reliever against the Cincinnati Reds. He entered in the fifth with Brooklyn down 3-0, and the Dodgers rallied for a 9-5 win.

He appeared in ten games for Brooklyn in 1949, finishing 1-3 with a 7.04 ERA in 30⅔ innings. His time with the Dodgers ended after a rough game against the New York Giants on July 3, where he gave up nine earned runs in just 1⅔ innings during a 16-0 loss.

Best Seasons and Team Contributions

Martin’s best season came in 1951 with the Philadelphia Athletics. He went 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 138 innings, helping the A’s win 18 more games than the year before.

He beat every American League team at least once in 1951, working both as a starter and out of the bullpen. That year, he made 13 starts and 22 relief appearances.

In 1953, he also had a solid season with Philadelphia. He pitched in 58 games, going 10-12 with a 4.43 ERA over 156⅓ innings.

When he joined the Chicago White Sox from 1954 to 1956, Martin stayed consistent. He went 8-7 with a 3.01 ERA in 82 games, mostly as a reliever.

Pitching Style and Performance

Martin, a lefty, mostly pitched in relief during his career. He appeared in 250 games, starting just 71 times and coming out of the bullpen in 179 games.

His numbers show how tough things were back then. Martin walked 252 batters and struck out 245 in 604⅔ innings, which made him one of the rare pitchers to stick around for years despite more walks than strikeouts.

He became a dependable arm for several teams, offering veteran leadership and eating up innings when clubs needed it.

Martin’s experiences in World War II probably changed how he pitched. Shrapnel wounds to his left hand forced him to adjust his grip and delivery when he got back to baseball.

Notable Shutouts and Relief Work

Martin notched the only shutout of his major league career on July 19, 1951, when he beat the Detroit Tigers 5-0 at Briggs Stadium. That complete game win really marked the high point of his days as a starting pitcher.

On August 19, 1951, Martin took down the New York Yankees in a wild 15-1 complete game victory. He also tossed a complete game against Detroit on May 2, 1953, winning 4-1 as he made his comeback from a year-long injury.

Martin often shined in relief, especially against Hall of Famer Satchel Paige. He managed to beat Paige twice during the 1953 season while pitching against the St. Louis Browns.

On September 8, 1954, Martin made his last big start, pitching 8⅓ innings in a 2-1 win over the Washington Senators. He showed he could handle pressure, even late in his career.

Later Career and Retirement in 1959

In his final years, Martin moved around several American League teams before wrapping up his career with the Chicago Cubs in 1959. Teams leaned on his veteran presence for solid relief pitching.

Stints with Multiple MLB Teams

Martin bounced between clubs during his later seasons, showing just how adaptable he was as a reliever. After his run with the Chicago White Sox, the Baltimore Orioles picked him up on waivers in July 1956 under manager Paul Richards.

Baltimore didn’t keep him long. Martin pitched only nine games for the Orioles, facing just 29 batters over five innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed Martin next, and he kept working as a relief specialist. Teams kept turning to him for his experience and steady arm.

Martin also spent a bit of time with the Cleveland Indians. Back then, teams often shuffled relievers around, always searching for reliable arms.

Each club valued Martin’s left-handed delivery and his coolness against tough hitters. War injuries never stopped him from staying effective on the mound.

Final Seasons and Chicago Cubs

Martin finished his major league journey with the Chicago Cubs in 1959. That season closed out a 10-year career across seven different big-league organizations.

The Cubs mostly used him out of the bullpen during his last year. He brought some much-needed leadership to a young pitching staff and gave the bullpen some stability.

Martin made his final MLB appearance on April 22, 1959, at age 36. Over his decade in the majors, he put together a 38-34 record with 15 saves in 250 games.

After the Cubs, Martin went back to the minors for one last season in 1960 with Houston. That short stint helped him ease out of his playing days.

He retired from pro baseball after the 1960 minor league season. Martin managed to overcome war injuries and put together a respectable major league career.

Influence in the American League

Martin spent most of his later years pitching in the American League, facing some of the best hitters in baseball. His lefty delivery gave even the stars plenty of trouble.

While with the Philadelphia Athletics, Martin found real success against AL opponents. In 1951, he managed to beat every other AL team at least once, which says a lot about his competitiveness.

His time with multiple American League teams gave him a unique look at how different organizations ran things. Martin adjusted his pitching style to fit each team’s needs.

He faced legends like Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams, proving he belonged in the big leagues. Most of his 245 career strikeouts came against AL batters.

Martin’s years in the American League helped cement his reputation as a steady veteran. Teams appreciated his dependable performance and his professional attitude.

Legacy, Personal Life, and Passing

After baseball, Morrie Martin settled into a quieter life back in Missouri and passed away in 2010 from lung cancer complications. His legacy stretches well beyond his 38-34 career record, as he stood for a generation of athletes who served in World War II.

Life After Baseball

Martin headed home to Missouri after he left baseball in 1959. He’d married Leona in 1946 while still recovering from his war wounds, and they made their home in Washington, Missouri.

He stayed active, spending a lot of time hunting and fishing. Those hobbies reminded him of his childhood, when he’d toss rocks at rabbits to help feed his family during the Depression. The outdoors always called to him, even long after his playing days.

Martin sometimes showed up at baseball events honoring World War II veterans. In November 2007, he traveled to a baseball conference at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. There, he joined other vets and former major leaguers like Bob Feller, Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, Lou Brissie, and Jerry Coleman for panel talks about baseball’s role in the 1940s.

Battle with Lung Cancer and Death

Cancer became Martin’s toughest opponent in his later years. Lung cancer eventually caught up with him as he reached his 80s.

On May 24, 2010, Morris “Morrie” Martin died at age 87 from cancer complications. He passed away in Washington, Missouri, the same state where he’d been born so many years earlier.

Martin was buried at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery in Washington, Missouri. His death closed the book on a remarkable life that spanned the Depression, World War II, and a decade in the majors. He outlived many of his old teammates, and his story still resonates.

Recognition and Lasting Impact

Martin’s real legacy comes from his military service, not his baseball stats. He picked up two Purple Hearts, four battle stars, and an Oak Leaf Cluster for fighting with the 49th Combat Engineer Battalion in World War II.

His baseball career was pretty modest, but it showed a lot of grit. Even though he walked more batters than he struck out, Martin still kept a winning record and managed to beat every American League team at least once during his 1951 season with Philadelphia.

Martin stands for the thousands of ballplayers who put their careers on hold to fight in World War II. His survival at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and other major battles, then coming back to play pro baseball, really shows the sacrifice and determination of his whole generation.