Fred Marsh – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Fred Marsh finished up his Major League Baseball career in 1956 after seven seasons as a journeyman infielder. Born in Valley Falls, Kansas, Marsh played for five different teams during his big league run, working mostly as a third baseman for clubs like the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Baltimore Orioles.

Marsh played from 1949 to 1956, putting together a .239 batting average with 10 home runs and 96 RBIs in 465 games. Sure, those numbers aren’t superstar level, but his story really captures what so many players went through as the backbone of pro baseball right after World War II.

He bounced around a lot, and the trades that sent him from team to team show how player movement worked back then.

He had some quirky moments in his career, like that wild 1952 season when teams traded him twice in just a few months. From his first signing with the Chicago Cubs in 1942 to his last game with Baltimore, Marsh’s journey gives you a real sense of what life was like for a career utility player during baseball’s so-called golden age.

Fred Marsh’s Baseball Career Overview

Fred Marsh spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1956, mostly as a third baseman for five different teams. His .239 career batting average, along with 10 home runs and 96 RBIs, reflected his role as a utility infielder in the post-war baseball era.

Early MLB Debut and Positions

Fred Marsh made his MLB debut on April 19, 1949, with the Cleveland Indians at age 25. He came into the game as a pinch runner, kicking off his professional career.

He played mainly as a third baseman, but teams sometimes used him as a utility infielder. At 5’10” and 180 pounds, he fit right in with other infielders of his time.

After graduating from Steinmetz High School in 1941, Marsh signed with the Chicago Cubs. World War II soon interrupted his progress, and he served in the Navy until 1945.

When he returned, Marsh worked his way through the minors before finally reaching the majors with Cleveland. His first season in 1949 gave him limited chances as he tried to adjust to major league pitching.

Peak Season Performance

Marsh had his best season in 1951 with the St. Louis Browns, the only year he played over 100 games. He appeared in 130 games, hit .243, knocked four home runs, and drove in 43 runs, mostly while holding down third base.

1951 Season Statistics:

• Games: 130
• Batting Average: .243
• Home Runs: 4
• RBIs: 43
• Primary Position: Third Base

The 1952 season got wild for Marsh because of trades. He started with the Browns, then on May 12, they traded him and Lou Sleater to the Washington Senators for Cass Michaels.

Just a few weeks later, Washington sent him back to St. Louis for Earl Rapp. Even with all the movement, Marsh played 96 games between the two teams and hit .258, his best single-season average.

He also showed off his base-stealing skills, making it in 13 of 14 attempts. That’s a 92.9% success rate, which is honestly impressive.

Retirement in 1956

Marsh played his last MLB game on May 29, 1956, with the Baltimore Orioles. Injuries really took a toll on him in his final years, especially in 1955 when a broken elbow and leg injury kept him out for nearly half the season.

Still, he managed to play 89 games for Baltimore in 1955, which was his third-highest total in any season. That kind of grit says a lot about his love for the game, even as his playing time slipped.

He wrapped up his career with 465 games over seven seasons, playing for five different teams: Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles.

After baseball, Marsh moved on to civilian life and spent years as a postal carrier. He passed away on October 26, 2006, at 82, in Corry, Pennsylvania, and was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery.

Teams Fred Marsh Played For

Fred Marsh spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball, suiting up for five different American League teams. He had his longest run with the St. Louis Browns, where he really established himself and enjoyed his most productive years.

Cleveland Indians

Fred Marsh made his big league debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 19, 1949, at age 25. His time with Cleveland was about as short as it gets.

He only played in one game for the Indians that season. He didn’t record any at-bats or hits.

The Indians used him as a pinch hitter in that lone appearance. It seems like they called him up from the minors just to get a quick look.

After that brief stint, Marsh went back to the minors and Cleveland didn’t bring him back for 1950.

St. Louis Browns Years

The St. Louis Browns became Marsh’s main team, and he played there from 1951 to 1952. Those years were the high point of his major league career.

In 1951, Marsh played 130 games for the Browns, which was a career high. He hit .243 with 108 hits, 21 doubles, and 43 RBIs—his best offensive season.

The Browns made him their starting third baseman in 1951. He played 117 games at third and, honestly, made 28 errors, which was a lot for the position.

In 1952, Marsh played 87 games for St. Louis before a trade sent him elsewhere. He hit .279 with the Browns that year, which turned out to be his best average in the majors. They used him at several infield spots, including shortstop and second base.

Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox

Marsh also played for the Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox during his career, with mixed results.

The Senators picked up Marsh in a 1952 trade from St. Louis. His time in Washington barely got started—he only played in nine games and hit a rough .042 with just one hit in 24 at-bats.

Chicago signed Marsh for the 1953 and 1954 seasons. The White Sox gave him more regular playing time than Washington ever did.

In 1953, Marsh played 67 games for Chicago and hit .200 with two home runs. Things picked up in 1954, when he batted .306 in 62 games. That season was one of his better ones at the plate.

Baltimore Orioles

Marsh wrapped up his career with the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1956. The Orioles were basically the old St. Louis Browns, just in a new city.

In 1955, Marsh played 89 games for Baltimore, hitting .218 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. The Orioles mostly used him at third base and shortstop.

His last season in 1956 was short—just 20 games. He hit .125, and that was it for his major league days.

He played his final game on May 29, 1956, against the Washington Senators. At 32, Marsh called it a career after that brief last run.

Career Achievements and Notable Stats

Fred Marsh put together a .239 career batting average, 10 home runs, and 96 RBIs in 465 games over seven big league seasons. His standout year was 1951, when he racked up 108 hits and 21 doubles playing mostly third base for the St. Louis Browns.

Games Played and Batting Statistics

Marsh appeared in 465 games across seven seasons from 1949 to 1956. He suited up for five teams: Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles.

The 1951 season was his best statistically. He played 130 games for the Browns, collected 108 hits and 21 doubles, and batted .243 with four home runs and 43 RBIs.

His career totals included 296 hits, 43 doubles, eight triples, and 10 home runs. Marsh walked 125 times and struck out 171 times during his MLB career.

He had his best offensive season in 1954 with the Chicago White Sox, posting a .306 average in 62 games.

Fielding Contributions

Marsh played all over the infield, but mostly third base, shortstop, and second base. That versatility made him a handy player for several teams.

At third base in 1951, Marsh committed 28 errors in 117 games, ending up with a .928 fielding percentage. That was below the league average of .950 for third basemen that year.

His defense got better at shortstop for the Browns in 1952. In 60 games there, he posted a .945 fielding percentage with 72 putouts and 117 assists.

Marsh showed decent range at second base, though he didn’t play there as often. His defensive flexibility gave managers options all over the infield.

Base Stealing Record

Marsh didn’t light up the basepaths, but he managed to swipe 13 bases and got caught 14 times.

His busiest year for steals was 1951, when he stole four bases for the Browns. He matched that with four more stolen bases in 1954 with Chicago.

He played it pretty safe when it came to stealing, which was pretty typical for that era. With a caught-stealing rate of 52%, he picked his moments carefully.

Noteworthy Moments and Trades

Fred Marsh’s seven-season career had plenty of team changes and some memorable statistical highlights. His best season by far came in 1951, when he set personal bests in several categories.

Notable Trades and Player Exchanges

Fred Marsh changed teams a lot during his career. He played for five different organizations from 1949 to 1956.

He started out with the Cleveland Indians in 1949. After that rookie year, he moved to the St. Louis Browns in 1951.

He went through his busiest stretch of trades in 1952, splitting that season between the Browns and the Senators.

Marsh then landed with the Chicago White Sox for the 1953 and 1954 seasons. That was his longest stay with any one team.

His last MLB stop came with the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1956. That was team number five, and where he wrapped up his career.

Milestone Games and Highlights

Marsh’s top season was 1951 with the St. Louis Browns. He notched 108 hits and 21 doubles, both career highs.

He played in 130 games that year and hit .243 with four home runs and 43 RBIs.

Over his whole MLB career, Marsh collected 296 hits in 465 games. He stayed pretty steady as a utility infielder, moving around as needed.

He debuted on April 19, 1949, with the Cleveland Indians. Throughout his career, Marsh threw and batted right-handed, stood 5’10”, and weighed 180 pounds.

Personal Life and Post-Baseball Career

Fred Marsh’s life was about more than baseball—he faced early challenges, served in the military, and built a solid second career. Born in Kansas and raised in Chicago, he balanced sports and service in World War II before settling into life as a postal worker.

Early Life and Education

Fred Francis Marsh was born January 5, 1924, in Valley Falls, Kansas. His parents, James E. and Searcy Johnson Marsh, moved the family to Chicago when Fred was just four.

He grew up in Chicago and went to Steinmetz High School, where he showed real promise on the baseball field. Marsh graduated from Steinmetz in 1941.

The Chicago Cubs liked what they saw and signed him right after graduation. That was the start of his pro baseball journey, though world events would soon put things on hold.

Military Service During World War II

After the Cubs drafted Fred, his baseball career hit pause. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, setting aside the game for a bigger calling.

Fred served in the Mediterranean. He spent time in Sicily and Italy, right in the thick of some important military campaigns.

He showed real commitment to his country during the war. In 1945, the Navy discharged him.

That timing worked out, since it meant he could get back to baseball just as the war ended and pro sports started up again.

Life After MLB

When Fred Marsh retired from baseball in 1957, he didn’t just sit around. He landed a job with the United States Postal Service and spent almost thirty years as a postal carrier.

On September 29, 1945, Fred married Lillian M. Bennett in Newport, Rhode Island. Together, they raised four kids: three daughters—Candace, Lynnette, and Lavonne—and a son, Kenneth J. Marsh, who sadly passed away before his father.

Fred finished his postal career in 1984, closing out a long run of steady work. He joined the First Baptist Church in Corry back in 1956, and he stuck with it for the rest of his life.

The community noticed his impact on local sports. They inducted him into the Corry Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2006, he picked up the Gertrude Barber Sportsman of the Year award.

Even in his later years, Fred stayed sharp and active. He loved reading and kept up with sports, and he genuinely enjoyed spending time with his big family, including plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Fred Marsh’s Legacy and Recognition

Fred Marsh played seven seasons in Major League Baseball, and while his career wasn’t flashy, it definitely left a mark. People remember him through baseball records and memorials that honor his time on and off the field.

Impact on Major League Baseball

Fred Marsh made his mark in Major League Baseball with his versatility and steady presence. He played for five different teams between 1949 and 1956.

His standout year came in 1951 with the St. Louis Browns. That season, Marsh racked up career highs with 108 hits and 21 doubles, playing in 130 games.

That year really showed he was a reliable utility infielder. Marsh ended up with a .239 batting average, 10 home runs, and 96 RBIs across 465 games.

He covered a bunch of infield positions, mostly third base, and always seemed ready to step in wherever the team needed him. The Baseball Almanac and other records still keep track of what he did for the game.

His career spanned the post-World War II era, a time when baseball was changing fast.

Remembrance and Memorials

Fred Marsh’s memory sticks around in baseball history and on several memorial sites. Find a Grave Memorial keeps a record of his life and what he achieved during his career, making sure future generations can learn about him.

His military service during World War II adds another layer to his story. Marsh served in the U.S. Navy and saw action in Sicily, Italy, before he came back to baseball in 1945.

Baseball reference sites like StatsCrew.com and The Baseball Cube keep tracking his career stats. These resources let researchers and fans dig into his contributions to Major League Baseball whenever they want.

Marsh died on October 26, 2006, at age 82. His obituary talked about both his time in baseball and his military service, showing a life spent serving his country and his sport.