Marv Rickert – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Marvin “Twitch” Rickert’s baseball career really captures what so many players went through during World War II. Major league hopes got put on hold for military service, and opportunities in pro ball were always a bit scarce. Born in the little logging town of Long Branch, Washington, Rickert worked on his game in the Pacific Northwest before he landed with five major league teams between 1942 and 1950.

Rickert hit the peak of his career during the 1948 World Series with the Boston Braves. He started five of the six games and even homered off Cleveland Indians pitcher Steve Gromek, despite just getting called up days before the season ended. His journey from a timber town of only 600 people to the World Series says a lot about how unpredictable baseball careers could be before free agency.

This outfielder’s story has it all—back-to-back inside-the-park home runs, Coast Guard service in the Aleutians during WWII, and moments of brilliance that a .247 career batting average across 402 games just doesn’t really tell. He bounced between organizations and finally called it a career after 1950, heading back to Washington state for a new chapter.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Marvin August Rickert grew up in a baseball family in Long Branch, Washington, born January 8, 1921. This tight-knit community was the perfect place for him to develop as an athlete, and the Rickert family name was pretty much synonymous with local baseball greatness.

Family Background and Long Branch Roots

Long Branch was tiny, just 600 people tucked away on the Olympic Peninsula. Baseball and the Rickert family’s grip on the local team put the town on the map, at least for sports fans.

Marv’s dad worked in logging but found time to play ball. The family’s athletic reputation was almost legendary in the area. Back in 1908, the Long Branch team won the Washington State semipro championship with a lineup stacked with Rickerts.

Eight Rickerts played on that championship team, including Marv’s father and four of his uncles. The only outsider, Bert Watkinson, made the cut by marrying into the family.

“He married Uncle Fred’s daughter,” Rickert once told sportswriter Edgar Munzel. That kind of family connection to baseball shaped Marv’s future, no doubt about it.

High School Athletics and Early Achievements

Rickert’s athletic ability stood out in his teens. At 6’2″ and 195 pounds, he looked the part of a future pro.

Scouts noticed him in high school. The Tacoma Tigers of the Western International League liked what they saw and signed him straight out of school.

In 1938, just 17, Rickert started his pro career with Class B Tacoma. He played 19 games at first base, but a broken foot slowed him down that first season.

Even with that injury, Rickert’s talent was obvious. His size, speed, and bat made him a prospect teams wanted to develop in the minors.

Path to the Major Leagues

Marv Rickert’s road from high school to the majors took him through the Western International League, Pioneer League, and Texas League. From 1938 to 1942, he kept showing improvement both at the plate and in the field.

Tacoma Tigers and the Western International League

Rickert signed with the Tacoma Tigers at just 17 back in 1938. He started as a first baseman in Class B ball.

An injury cut his first season short. He managed only 19 games before a broken foot put him out for most of the year.

He went back to Tacoma in 1940 after a year in Boise. That season, he hit .288 with 8 home runs and 77 RBIs, splitting time between first and the outfield.

In 1941, Rickert was batting .284 after 87 games with Tacoma when the Chicago Cubs bought his contract in August. The sale was reportedly over $3,000.

Boise in the Pioneer League

The Cubs sent Rickert to Boise in the Class C Pioneer League for most of 1939. This gave him a chance to bounce back after his injury-shortened debut.

He moved fully to the outfield in Boise and really took off in his new spot.

He hit an impressive .354 in 100 games with 14 home runs and 75 RBIs. That performance marked him as a power hitter to keep an eye on.

His strong year in Boise got him promoted back to Tacoma for 1940. That stint in the Pioneer League showed he could handle pro ball, even after a rough start.

Tulsa Oilers in the Texas League

After the Cubs picked up his contract, Rickert landed with their Class A affiliate, the Tulsa Oilers. That was a big step up in competition.

He struggled at first in Class A, hitting just .230 in 1941.

But in the playoffs, Rickert caught fire. He hit an incredible .750 in six games against the Dallas Rebels, showing he could shine when it mattered.

In 1942, Rickert finally broke through with Tulsa. He batted .310 with 9 home runs and 73 RBIs, which earned him his first major league call-up to the Chicago Cubs that September.

Major League Career Overview

Marvin “Twitch” Rickert played six seasons in the majors from 1942 to 1950, appearing in 402 games for five teams. Three years of Coast Guard service during WWII interrupted his career, but he came back strong in the late 1940s.

Chicago Cubs Debut and Early Years

Rickert made his Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs on September 10, 1942, at age 21. He played eight games that September and collected seven hits in 26 at-bats, batting .269.

His jump to the majors came after a .310 season with nine home runs and 73 RBIs for Tulsa. The Cubs called him up in September, impressed by his minor league numbers.

World War II cut his early career short. Rickert enlisted in the Coast Guard in October 1942 and served three years on active duty from 1943 to 1945.

While in the service, he hauled ammunition to American bases in the Aleutians on an explosives ship. Later, he coached the Coast Guard baseball team in Seattle, and that squad went 98-8 over two years.

Role as an Outfielder

Rickert became known as a versatile outfielder who could handle all three spots. His speed and defense made him useful as both a starter and a utility guy.

At 6’2″ and 195 pounds, he hit left-handed and covered a lot of ground. The nickname “Twitch” came from his quick moves on the field.

After returning from the Coast Guard in 1946, Rickert played a career-high 111 games for the Cubs. He hit .263 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs that year.

One of his most memorable moments came on June 23, 1946. He and Eddie Waitkus hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs—a first in National League history.

Performance with Different Teams

Rickert moved around a lot, suiting up for five teams. After the Cubs sold him to the Cincinnati Reds in 1947, he played just six games before the Reds traded him to the Boston Braves.

His best season came in 1949 with Boston. He hit .292 with six home runs and 49 RBIs in 100 games, leading the Braves in average among players with at least 150 at-bats.

Rickert played in the 1948 World Series for Boston, starting five of six games in left field. He hit .211 in the Series and hit a solo home run in Game Four against Cleveland.

He wrapped up his career in 1950, splitting the season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. He hit .150 in 17 games for Pittsburgh, then finished with a .237 average in 84 games for Chicago.

Boston Braves, World Series, and Career Highlights

Rickert’s most memorable chapter unfolded after a late-season trade to Boston in 1948. He found himself in the World Series spotlight, and his performance against the Cleveland Indians proved he could handle the game’s biggest moments.

Trade to the Boston Braves

In April 1948, the Cincinnati Reds traded Rickert to the Boston Braves for outfielder Danny Litwhiler. Rickert had only six at-bats with the Reds before the deal.

The Braves sent him to their Milwaukee Brewers farm club in the American Association. Rickert thrived there in 1948.

He hit .302 with 27 home runs and 117 RBIs for Milwaukee. That performance earned him a spot on the American Association All-Star team.

Late in September, Braves outfielder Jeff Heath broke his ankle during the last week of the regular season. The Braves bought Rickert’s contract from Milwaukee and rushed him to the big-league roster.

He arrived in Brooklyn just an hour before game time. Without much warning, he started in left field for his first game back in the majors.

1948 World Series Appearance

The Boston Braves asked Commissioner Happy Chandler to let Rickert play in the World Series despite his late arrival. The Cleveland Indians agreed.

Rickert started in left field for five of the six games against Cleveland. He picked up four hits in 19 at-bats, batting .211.

He got one of his key hits in Game One off Bob Feller. Rickert was the only Brave who had faced Feller before, going 6-for-9 against him in spring training.

In Game Four, Rickert hit a solo home run off Steve Gromek. That was the Braves’ only run in a 2-1 loss.

Cleveland took the series in six games. Boston hit just .230 as a team, and Cleveland only managed .199 in a series dominated by pitching.

Notable Moments and Achievements

Rickert had a unique World Series distinction with his pay. Since he joined the team after the player pool was set, Commissioner Chandler gave him a one-third Series loser’s share of $1,523.58.

Writers praised his defense in the World Series. That performance helped him lock down a full-time contract with Boston for 1949.

In 1949, Rickert put up his best big league season with the Braves, hitting .292 in 100 games. That was the top average among Boston players with at least 150 at-bats.

He might have been the first big leaguer to use a batting glove. Rickert wore a golf glove on his right hand while batting, which got him some odd looks and criticism from the other dugout.

During his Cubs days in 1946, Rickert and Eddie Waitkus pulled off a rare feat—back-to-back inside-the-park home runs on June 23. It’s the only time that’s happened in National League history.

Military Service and Coast Guard Baseball

Rickert spent three years in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, taking on some pretty dangerous assignments in the Pacific. After his first year, he coached the Coast Guard baseball team in Seattle and found a lot of success.

Service in the United States Coast Guard

Rickert joined the military with the Coast Guard on September 28, 1942. His first year brought one of the most dangerous jobs out there.

Dangerous Pacific Assignment
He served on an explosives boat, hauling ammunition to the Aleutian Islands while Japanese forces threatened the area. “I still shudder when I think of it,” Rickert told The Sporting News on April 11, 1946.

That job put him right in harm’s way during a critical time in the Pacific campaign. The Aleutians were under threat, and those missions were extremely risky.

Service Period
Rickert’s military service lasted three years, from 1943 to 1945. Those years interrupted his baseball career just as he was starting to make his mark in the majors.

Coaching the Coast Guard Baseball Team

After handling dangerous ammunition transport duties, Rickert moved on and started coaching the Coast Guard baseball team in Seattle. He got to lean on his professional baseball background while still serving in the military.

Exceptional Record

Rickert led the Coast Guard team to some pretty remarkable success over two years. They racked up an impressive 98 wins and only 8 losses.

That kind of record really shows how Rickert could spot and develop talent. If you ask me, his professional experience made a noticeable difference for those Coast Guard players.

Location and Duration

He spent two seasons coaching the team in Seattle during his Coast Guard service. Coaching kept him close to baseball, even while meeting his military commitments.

The role helped him stay in the game during the gap before he returned to Major League Baseball in 1946.

Final Years in Baseball and 1950 Retirement

Marv Rickert’s last season in 1950 didn’t go too well. He bounced between two teams and just couldn’t find his rhythm.

After rough stretches with both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox, Rickert retired from Major League Baseball at 29.

1950 Season Performance Analysis

Rickert’s 1950 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates got off to a rough start. He only played in 17 games and hit just .150, mostly coming off the bench as a pinch hitter.

The Pirates quickly moved on and put him on waivers by the end of May. That short stint with Pittsburgh ended fast.

The Chicago White Sox picked up Rickert on waivers, giving him a second go with the franchise. In Chicago, he actually played a lot more, appearing in 84 games.

Even with more chances, Rickert just couldn’t get his bat going. He managed a .237 average for the White Sox, which was below his career mark of .247.

1950 Season Statistics:

• Pittsburgh Pirates: 17 games, .150 batting average
• Chicago White Sox: 84 games, .237 batting average
• Combined: 101 games, .221 batting average

The White Sox wrapped up the season with a pretty bad 60-94 record. Rickert’s offensive struggles didn’t help the team much.

Retirement from Professional Baseball

In December 1950, the White Sox sold Rickert outright to the Triple-A Baltimore Orioles. That move pretty much marked the end of his Major League days at age 29.

He spent two more years in the minors before hanging up his cleats for good. Rickert played for Baltimore in the International League during 1951 and 1952, and every now and then, he showed glimpses of his old self.

In 1951, he led the International League with 35 home runs and hit .320. Toronto Maple Leafs offered $20,000 for his contract, but Baltimore turned them down.

His last professional season came in 1952, after Baltimore sold him to Toronto. He hit .262 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs between both teams.

Career Totals (1942-1950):

• Games: 402
• Batting Average: .247
• Home Runs: 19
• RBIs: 145
• Hits: 284

After retiring, Rickert headed back to Washington state. He worked as a bartender for a while, then ran a charter boat service with his wife Margaret and their kids, Byron and Pamela.

Legacy, Life After Baseball, and Personal Insights

Marv Rickert left professional baseball and settled into a quieter life back in Washington. He tried a few different jobs, but always seemed to stay connected to the sport that shaped his early years.

His place in baseball history isn’t huge, but folks in local sports circles still remember him.

Post-Baseball Life and Careers

Once Rickert finished his baseball career in 1952, he returned to his home state of Washington. He settled down with Margaret and their two kids, Byron and Pamela.

He spent a few years working as a bartender. That job let him chat with people and show off the outgoing personality that made him a clubhouse favorite.

Later, Rickert started a charter boat business. Washington’s coastline and fishing scene made it a natural fit, and he got to spend plenty of time outdoors.

He stayed in the Pacific Northwest for the rest of his life. Even near the end of his playing days, he tried to stick close to the West Coast, showing just how much he loved the region.

After baseball, Rickert focused on his family. He raised his kids far from the spotlight of professional sports.

Legacy in Baseball Communities

Back in 1964, Rickert got his due when the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame inducted him. He stood on stage with Cy Neighbors, another local guy who also had a short stint in the majors.

That kind of recognition put Rickert among some of the region’s baseball names, like Jack Fournier. Fournier, for what it’s worth, played 15 years and hit .313 for teams like the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers between 1912 and 1927.

People still talk about Rickert’s World Series appearance in 1948. He started five out of six games for the Boston Braves against the Cleveland Indians, even though the team called him up just hours before his first game.

He showed up in Brooklyn only an hour before game time, which is wild if you think about it. Commissioner Happy Chandler had to jump in and certify him as eligible, since the Braves needed him in an emergency.

Rickert hit .211 in the Series, but he made important contributions, especially when he faced Bob Feller in Game One.