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- - RIP - Marty Marion (http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=134484)

RIP - Marty Marion

RIP Marty Marion .. nicknamed "The Octopus"

a truly great Cardinal

my condolences to family, friends, fans

barry

RIP Marty. Anyone know what his rookie card is? Just curious.

I wish the Marion family well.

Dad was a Cardinal fan. He'd listen to them on the radio. About 1950 or 1951 he went by train to Pittsburgh, to visit an aunt and uncle for a couple of weeks. They took him to a Pirates game when the Cardinals were in town. And he took pictures.

He took me to a bunch of ball games. Over the years, if we were watching a good short stop, or a good play, and if I asked about who he thought was the best, sometimes he'd quietly opine that Marty Marion was about the best he'd seen. Slats.

Years later I found a couple of negatives from the photos Dad had taken. I had this one immediately below printed. And after a year or so I wrote Mr. Marion asking for an autograph. I sent him 2 copies of the photo and asked that he sign and return one, which he graciously did.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ionbatting.jpg

I did not mail him this photo. But I thought about it. I decided not to wear him out with signing. It's Slaughter's Mad Dash in the 1946 World Series... HOFer umpire Al Barlick signed it for me, as did HOFer Enos Slaughter, Marion was on deck and stands there, and catching for the Red Sox, just into the game, is Roy Partee.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...rionondeck.jpg

And these may well be his 'rookie' cards... 1939 Exhibits. There were 2 versions, one with "An Exhibit Card" and one without that.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...39Exhibits.jpg

Rest in peace Mr. Marion.

<a href="http://s606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/jalbregts/PC/?action=view&current=IMG_0026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/jalbregts/PC/IMG_0026.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My dad used to claim that Marion was the best shortstop he ever saw - including Ozzie Smith!

As a Cardinal fan, this is a sad day for our baseball history. I have always thought he had one of the nicest autographs Ive ever seen. Awesome player, and will be missed!

Goodbye "Slats!"

RIP Marty................