Lloyd Merriman – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Lloyd Merriman’s baseball career is a story of talent and dreams, but also of interruptions he just couldn’t avoid. He was born in Clovis, California, in 1924. As a kid, he shined both as a football star at Stanford University and as a speedy outfielder with big-league ambitions.

But his path from college standout to pro baseball player kept getting sidetracked. Military service during World War II and then the Korean War stole years from his athletic prime.

Merriman spent seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1955. He put up a .242 batting average with 12 home runs and 117 RBIs over 455 games for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Cubs. People knew him for his blazing speed and called him “Citation,” after the famous racehorse. Still, he just couldn’t quite turn that raw athleticism into consistent hitting in the majors. His story is pretty typical for the “bonus babies” of that era—guys who got rushed to the big leagues without enough time in the minors.

Lloyd’s life stretched far beyond baseball. He worked in his family’s grocery store, served as a Marine pilot flying combat missions in Korea, and juggled being a two-sport college athlete, a decorated veteran, and a major leaguer. It’s a window into a time when pro sports looked so different, and athletes often had to balance their dreams with military service and other responsibilities.

Early Life and Education

Lloyd Archer Merriman was born August 2, 1924, in Clovis, California. His family ran a grocery store, and baseball was just part of growing up.

He stood out as a four-sport athlete at Clovis High School. Even at Stanford, he managed to balance academics with both baseball and football.

Childhood in Clovis, California

Lloyd grew up in Clovis, a small town just outside Fresno in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The annual rodeo was a big deal there, and it shaped the rural vibe of his childhood.

His parents, Carl and Bessie Prussing Merriman, owned and ran the grocery store. Lloyd learned the value of hard work early on, helping out at the shop.

Baseball really ran in the family. Carl, his dad, had pitched semipro ball and introduced Lloyd to the game when he was just a kid.

Lloyd worked part-time at the store and saved up to buy baseball gloves for himself and his dad. They’d play catch together after work.

Clovis was small, but it gave Lloyd plenty of chances to play organized baseball. He joined American Legion teams and sandlot games, and scouts started to notice his natural talent.

High School Sports Achievements

At Clovis Union High School, Lloyd became a multi-sport standout. He played football, basketball, baseball, and track.

He especially shined in baseball, pitching left-handed and covering the outfield with ease. That versatility would define his athletic career.

Scouts noticed Lloyd while he was still in high school. His performances in high school baseball, American Legion, and sandlot games really put him on the map.

Even with pro teams interested, Lloyd listened to his parents. They wanted him to get a college education first, not jump straight to pro ball.

He eventually became the second Clovis High School player to reach the majors, which was a huge deal in such a small town.

Stanford University Student Experience

Lloyd started at Stanford University in 1942, focusing on school while thinking about his future in sports. He joined Zeta Psi fraternity, and his friends there talked him into trying out for the freshman football team.

He’d come to Stanford mainly for baseball, but football talent just seemed to come naturally. He earned a starting spot as fullback on the freshman squad, kicking off a pretty amazing football run.

World War II interrupted everything. After his freshman year in 1943, Lloyd enlisted in the Navy and soon transferred to the Marine Corps for pilot training.

When he finished his service, he came back to Stanford for the spring semester in 1946. He joined the varsity baseball team and hit .390 as the center fielder, making an immediate impact.

Lloyd met Dilys Jones, a speech and drama major, on a Christmas ski trip. They married on October 10, 1948, and both graduated with Stanford’s class of 1949.

Military Service: World War II and Korean War

Lloyd Merriman served his country in two wars—first as a Marine pilot trainee during World War II, then as a combat fighter pilot in Korea. He put in over a decade of service, flying 85 combat missions with guys like Ted Williams and future astronaut John Glenn.

World War II Naval Pilot Training

He enlisted in the Navy after his freshman year at Stanford in 1942, then switched to the Marine Corps for pilot training.

The war totally disrupted his college plans. He spent three years in the military during World War II.

He wrapped up flight training in July 1945, right before Japan surrendered. He finished his pilot certification just as the war ended.

First Lieutenant Merriman got released from active duty in time for Stanford’s spring semester in 1946. He missed some key years of school and sports development.

Even while serving, he played football to keep his athletic edge. When the war ended, he had to decide if he’d stay in the military.

He joined the inactive reserves instead of extending his tour to China. That choice would come back into play when the Korean War started and he got recalled.

Korean War Fighter Pilot Return

The Marine Corps called Merriman back from the reserves in January 1952, right in the middle of his baseball career. He was activated in May 1952, cutting his baseball season short.

Combat Service Details:

• Missions Flown: 85 combat operations
• Aircraft: F-9 Panther jets
• Rank: Captain
• Tour Duration: February 1953 to September 1953

He needed retraining on jets, since he hadn’t flown since World War II. Merriman described flying jets as a thrill, saying the sound vanished after takeoff because the plane outran its own noise.

He served with Ted Williams and John Glenn. The three even ran a baseball clinic for the enlisted men.

During combat, antiaircraft fire hit his jet and knocked out the hydraulics and brakes. He had to crash-land in a rice paddy after missing the emergency cable.

Captain Merriman earned the Air Medal with four presidential citations and four gold stars.

Notable Service Connections

Ted Williams served with Merriman as a fellow Marine pilot and ballplayer recalled to duty. Williams once escaped from a burning aircraft during their time in Korea.

Williams later spoke out against the military recalling pro athletes, saying they were unfairly targeted.

John Glenn, who’d become an astronaut, flew missions with both baseball players. Those three showed just how many paths to success existed in 1950s America.

Merriman and Williams went duck hunting together once, but Merriman admitted Williams was the better shot.

Jerry Coleman of the Yankees also got called back to service around the same time. Those recalls really changed MLB rosters during the Korean War.

Missing those two prime seasons (1952-1953) at age 27-28 definitely hurt Merriman’s baseball development.

His military record set him apart from other players. People described him as “a war hero, an All-American, and a college graduate at a time when most athletes disdained academic life.”

Transition to Professional Baseball

In 1947, Lloyd Merriman decided to leave Stanford football behind and chase his baseball dreams. The Cincinnati Reds signed him for a $12,500 bonus, making him their first bonus baby under the new league rules.

Signing with Cincinnati Reds

In July 1947, Merriman traveled to Cincinnati with scout Bobby Mattick to work out for the Reds. The team quickly saw his potential and signed him for a $12,500 bonus. He became their first bonus baby under a rule meant to limit payments to untested amateurs.

The signing stunned the West Coast football world. Stanford athletic director Al Masters said, “The entire team had been built around Merriman.” The 1947 Stanford football team didn’t win a game after losing him.

Merriman’s choice made sense to him. He was almost 23, had two years left for his degree, and worried that another football season might wreck his baseball shot. Plus, he was focused on his future wife, Dilys Jones.

Class-A and Minor League Development

The Reds first signed Merriman to a Class-C contract in 1948. But after watching him in spring training, they bumped him up to Class-A Columbia, South Carolina in the Sally League.

His first pro season was a breakout. He led the Sally League in several categories:

• 120 runs (league leader)
• 18 triples (league leader)
• 44 stolen bases (league leader)
• .298 batting average

Fans started calling him “Citation” after the racehorse that won the Triple Crown, thanks to his speed.

After that great 1948 season, Merriman married Dilys on October 10, 1948. They both went back to Stanford to finish their degrees and graduated with the class of 1949.

Major League Baseball Career Highlights

Lloyd Merriman played six years in the majors, from 1949 to 1955, mainly with the Cincinnati Reds. He debuted with a bang and later did stints with both Chicago teams before retiring.

Cincinnati Reds and Redlegs Tenure

Merriman made his MLB debut on April 24, 1949, for the Cincinnati Reds at age 24. In his first game against Pittsburgh, he hit a triple and a home run, helping the team win 3-2.

The Reds had signed him as a bonus baby for $12,500 after just one year in Class-A. That meant he had to stay on the major league roster or risk being lost on waivers.

Early Career Statistics (1949-1951):

• 1949: .230 batting average in 287 at-bats
• 1950: .258 batting average, but hurt his wrist crashing into the Crosley Field wall
• 1951: .242 batting average in a career-high 114 games

Manager Bucky Walters appreciated his work ethic, saying Merriman “worked harder than anyone else I ever saw.” Still, he struggled against big-league pitching, even with all his speed and a strong arm.

During his military absence, the team changed its name to the Redlegs because of anti-communist sentiment. When Merriman got back in 1954, younger players had taken over the outfield.

Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs Contributions

After his Korean War service, Merriman didn’t have many chances left in Cincinnati. The Redlegs put him on waivers, and the Chicago White Sox picked him up in 1955.

He barely played for the White Sox. Manager Marty Marion got a letter from Ty Cobb urging him to give Merriman a shot, but he only appeared in one game.

The White Sox then sold him to the Chicago Cubs later in 1955. The Cubs needed a center fielder and hoped his defense could help.

He spent his last season mostly as a pinch-hitter and defensive sub. Merriman retired after 1955, ending his pro baseball career at 31.

Notable Moments and Achievements

People called him “Citation” for a reason—he was fast, just like the famous racehorse. In his only minor league season, he led the Sally League with 44 stolen bases.

Serving as a Marine pilot in Korea was probably his biggest achievement. He flew 85 combat missions in F-9 Pantherjets and earned the Air Medal with four presidential citations and four gold stars.

Career MLB Totals:

• Games: 324
• Batting Average: .242
• Hits: 240
• Home Runs: 14
• RBIs: 102

Ty Cobb mentored him, which was rare. Cobb sent him letters in green ink with hitting tips and even contacted managers to help Merriman get a fair shot.

Even though he struggled at the plate, people respected Merriman for his character and military service. His skills in the outfield and his speed always made him valuable on defense.

Statistical Overview and Playing Style

Lloyd Merriman played five years in the majors, putting up a .242 batting average with 12 home runs and 117 RBIs over 455 games. He mostly patrolled center field, showing off solid range and dependable hands while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox.

Batting Average and Offensive Performance

Merriman hit .242 for his career, which kind of sums up the offensive struggles that followed him through most of his big league run. His best year? That was 1950, when he hit .258 with 77 hits in 298 at-bats.

In 1951, he got his most action, playing 114 games and stepping up to the plate 392 times. He collected 87 hits that year, including 23 doubles, but his average slipped back to .242.

He never really hit for power. Merriman managed just 12 home runs in total, and his best single season was five homers in 1951. His slugging percentage always stayed below .359, so he wasn’t exactly a slugger.

Still, he showed some patience. Merriman drew 126 walks in his career and struck out 124 times, so he kept things pretty balanced. Thanks to that, his on-base percentage made it to .316.

Fielding Prowess as an Outfielder

Merriman spent most of his time in center field, where he covered ground well and had sure hands. In 1950, he put up his best defensive numbers with a .989 fielding percentage over 84 outfield games.

Back in his rookie year, 1949, Merriman made 214 putouts in 608.1 innings out there. His range factor hit 3.27 per nine innings, which beat the league average of 2.51.

He had a decent arm for center field. In 1949, he notched seven assists, but after that, runners didn’t test him as much, so the assists dropped off.

He played a bit in left and right field, too. No matter where he stood, his defensive numbers held up.

RBI and Career Numbers

Merriman drove in 117 RBIs over five seasons, filling a middle-of-the-lineup role most of the time. His top RBI year was 1951, when he knocked in 36 runs while playing the most games of his career.

In 1950, he added 31 RBIs in 92 games, showing he could produce when he got steady playing time. His RBI per game average sat at 0.26, which put him on the lower end for everyday outfielders.

Altogether, Merriman collected 291 hits in 1,202 at-bats, with 64 doubles and 12 triples. He scored 140 runs and stole 20 bases, getting caught 13 times.

He played 455 games in the big leagues, which gave him a steady, if not standout, career. Most of those games came with Cincinnati—he wore their uniform for 382 games across four seasons—before finishing up with short runs in Chicago.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Memorials

Lloyd Merriman’s life stretched far beyond baseball. He stayed deeply rooted in his California hometown and left a real mark on his community. People still remember him at Stanford University, and his old high school even has a permanent memorial in his honor.

Family Life and Community Involvement

Merriman stuck close to his California roots his whole life. He grew up in Clovis, a small town near Fresno, where he first fell for baseball, playing street games with the neighborhood kids.

After hanging up his spikes, Merriman moved back to the Fresno area. He lived quietly, never seeking attention, and friends described him as a “quiet and likeable gentleman.”

Clovis always meant a lot to him. The town that watched him go from street ball to the majors kept cheering for him as a local hero. Merriman often talked about his childhood in Clovis, back before Little League when kids just made up their own games.

Honors and Hall of Fame Inductions

Stanford University put Merriman in their Athletic Hall of Fame, recognizing what he did in both baseball and football while he was there.

He stood out as a fullback at Stanford, averaging more than five yards a carry. One sports writer even called him “the finest fullback in the West” at the time. His football skills got him drafted by both the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Dons.

Clovis celebrated him, too. In 1993, Clovis High School renamed their varsity baseball field “Lloyd Merriman Field,” bringing together old friends and fans for the ceremony.

Merriman got to throw out the first pitch that day, a fitting tribute for the second Clovis High player to make it to the majors.

Post-Baseball Activities and Memorials

After he retired from baseball in 1955, Merriman mostly kept to himself. He stayed in California and settled down in the Fresno area, not far from where he grew up.

The memorial at Clovis High School is probably the clearest sign of his legacy. Lloyd Merriman Field still hosts high school baseball games, and honestly, it keeps inspiring young players from his hometown.

Merriman died on January 20, 2004, in Fresno, California, at 79. His family buried him at Clovis Cemetery, right back in his hometown, which feels like his story came full circle.

He served in the military during both World War II and the Korean conflict, which really added depth to his legacy. Merriman worked as a United States naval aviator and flew more than 80 combat missions in a Panther Jet during the Korean War. He actually put his baseball career on hold to serve his country.