Mike Marshall Was More Than a Handful
ALSO: BRAVES COULD GET BIG BOOST WITH FIVE FREE AGENTS ON THE CHEAP
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Reader Reacts
“I hope the author of this article [Ray Kuhn] is getting a "cut" from the moneybags in LA. What the Dodgers are doing is hurting MLB for 23 teams at least. No fan of those teams want to be out of sight by August 1.”
— Bob Ibach, Chicago
The writer is the former PR and publications director of the Chicago Cubs.
Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
Jurickson Profar said he was more excited than his 7-year-old son — a Braves fan —when Atlanta showed interest in signing him . . .
He grew up in Curacao cheering for countryman Andruw Jones, whose Atlanta tenure stamped him as a likely Hall of Famer . . .
Profar remembers watching Braves games aired on Wednesday nights in Curacao . . .
According to Baseball Reference, 17 big leaguers were born in Curaçao. Profar will be the seventh to play for the Braves, joining Jones, Ozzie Albies, Kenley Jansen, Jair Jurrjens, Andrelton Simmons and Randall Simon . . .
Another familiar face in a new place, Ryan Pressly, has 106 saves since Opening Day 2020 — fifth among big-league closers — and will take over the ninth-inning role for the Chicago Cubs following his acquisition from the Astros in a prime example of salary dumping . . .
Still seeking a return to the majors, controversial former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer will play in Japan again this season after spending 2024 pitching in the Mexican League . . .
Toronto infielder Will Wagner, who hit .305 in 24 games last year, is the son of newly-minted Hall of Famer Billy Wagner . . .
Dozens of free agents with recognizable names STILL remain unsigned on this late date, with two weeks left before pitchers and catchers report.
Leading Off
Dr. Mike Marshall, Baseball Iconoclast
By Bill Pruden
In the pantheon of individuals who have made baseball the character-driven sport that it is, few are more distinctive than Dr. (as in PhD) Mike Marshall, the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.
He’s also and a man who on February 1, 1976 was arrested by the East Lansing, MI police after a dispute with the Michigan State University police over conducting batting practice too close to the tennis courts and allegedly endangering the tennis players.
Marshall said the arrest violated his rights as a faculty member with the whole affair igniting a legal saga that would last for years. In its own way, the incident was quintessential Dr. Iron Mike.
Mike Marshall was a born contrarian, a fact that coupled with his individualism, did not always endear him to his teammates. But those on the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers, a group that rode his record breaking 106 relief appearances to a National League pennant, were generally willing to overlook his idiosyncrasies, like positioning his infielders when he was on the mound, as long as they were winning. And besides, that tendency only showed – and it was not the only way – that he was a man ahead of his time.
Indeed, Marshall’s whole career was a direct rebuke to the practices of today. While today less is more, Marshall’s 106 appearances in 1974 as well as his 66 in 1971, 65 in 1972, 92 in 1973, and 90 in 1979 were born more out of his belief in pitching more not less, than in the team’s need. A contrarian to the core, he lifted weights and ran long distances while others worried about being muscle bound and were running wind sprints. It was probably no accident that the screwball was a central part of his pitching arsenal. But while heresy to many, for Marshall, who earned a Ph.D. in Kinesiology while playing in the big leagues, it was an approach rooted in science – and it worked. Indeed, it is not an accident that in addition to encouraging his teammate Tommy John to get the then experimental surgery that now bears his name, Marshall played an important role in helping design a rehab program for John after the unprecedented procedure.
From the beginning of his pro career, Marshall pushed against the constraints of baseball conformity. Signed right out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960, he began his climb to the big leagues as a hard-hitting infielder. However, when he expressed his belief that he would be better as a pitcher, things turned sour.
Reluctant to let a player dictate his position, he was nevertheless given a chance in 1965 but unimpressed, the Phillies sold him to the Detroit Tigers after the season. After another year in the minors Marshall made his debut on May 31, 1967. He finished the season with 10 saves and an ERA of 1.98 in 37 appearances.
But in 1968 and 1969 he was back in the minors, where his efforts to develop a new pitch — a screwball — were discouraged by the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and the Houston Astros in 1970. ‘
After being traded to the Montreal Expos in June 1970, things changed. Working under Gene Mauch, he was named the closer and allowed to throw the screwball and do things his way. The result was a 1971 effort that included 23 saves - second in the major leagues - and 111 1/3 innings. He was even better in 1972. Racking up 14 wins and 18 saves with an ERA of 1.78 in 65 appearances, he finished behind only Tom Seaver in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
By season’s end, the Expos were ready to move on from the opinionated Marshall. Outspoken about the team’s failures and refusing a sponsor’s award as the team’s outstanding player because he did not think teammates should compete against each other for individual awards, he was traded to the Dodgers. In Walter Alston, Marshall found another manager open to his distinctive, personal approach. His 1974 performance validated Alston’s faith.
Unfortunately, he never again achieved comparable success.
Barely two weeks into the 1975 season, he went on the disabled list with torn rib cartilage. When he returned, he pitched inconsistently.
Meanwhile, the Michigan State case continued to dog him, leading to his late arrival at spring training. All of that, coupled with his increased activism as the team’s player representative, led the Dodgers to end the relationship.
After being traded to the Atlanta Braves in June of 1976, LA Times columnist Jim Murray summed up the Marshall conundrum when he wrote there “isn’t a team in baseball that wouldn’t have wanted Mike if it could keep the right arm and throw the rest away.”
Surgery on his knee shortened his 1976 season and when another Michigan State- based late arrival to spring training was followed by an incident with manager Dave Bristol in just his fourth appearance. Marshall was then sold to the Texas Rangers.
Injuries followed by more surgery left him facing the 1978 season without a team. Given that he was just about to complete his PhD., he decided to retire.
Wife Nancy knew better. Recognizing that he wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats, she contacted Minnesota Twins manager Gene Mauch. Joining the team in mid-May, Mike pitched well enough to get an extended contract and in 1979, he was back to his old tricks, pitching in 90 games and leading the league with 32 saves.
It all blew up when Marshall’s work as one of the highest profile and outspoken player reps alienated both Mauch and Twins owner Calvin Griffith who released him in mid-season — after a strike-averting interim agreement had been reached.
Marshall wrapped up his career with 20 appearances with the New York Mets in the second half of the 1981 season, bringing a singular career to a close.
Although he tried unsuccessfully for a couple years to latch on with another major-league club, none were willing to even hire him as a coach. He did do some coaching in small colleges and opened a private pitching academy, all in an effort to share what he knew. But his reputation as an outspoken and often incorrigible individual —rather than one of the most durable and successful relievers of his era — dominated teams’ impressions and memories.
The ever-independent Mike Marshall, an unrepentant rebel, had no regrets. As he unapologetically declared late in his life, “I know what works. That is the greatest truth there is. I have a responsibility to give it back. Nobody wants it? Hey. That’s not my problem.”
Bill Pruden is a high school history teacher whose love for baseball history was sparked as a 7-year-old when he witnessed Roger Maris hitting his 61st home run at Yankee Stadium in 1961. He has been writing about the game--primarily through SABR-sponsored platforms--for about a decade. His email address is courtwatchernc@aol.com.
Cleaning Up
Five ‘Cheap’ Free Agents Who Could Help the Braves
By Dan Schlossberg
Not all free agents command contracts much beyond the major-league minimum — $780,000 this year.
In fact, a slew of well-known veterans will find themselves out of work if they don’t sign soon. Their demands, coupled with the greed of their agents, just won’t penetrate the hard line taken this winter by most major-league executives.
That being said, economy-minded clubs can still dabble in the free-agent market, pick and choose carefully, and come up with pitchers plus bench-warmers who could even help determine the 2025 pennant races.
Take the Atlanta Braves, whose best-in-baseball streak of six straight division titles ended in a 2024 campaign in which many of their key players were sidelined for months with debilitating injuries.
Even with everyone healthy again, the best teams bank on bench players to make it through 162 games.
Here are five who could benefit the Braves without breaking the bank:
Jason Heyward — Raised in Atlanta and once employed by the Braves, this lefty-hitting outfielder has a strong throwing arm, the ability to play anywhere in the outfield, and surprising pop left in a bat that has seen better days. He’ll be 36 in August but could prove a stop-gap in right field until Ronald Acuna, Jr. returns from a torn left ACL sometime before Memorial Day. After that, Heyward can serve as a defensive replacement for Jurickson Profar, pinch-hitter for Orlando Arcia, and fourth outfielder behind Acuna, Michael Harris II, and Profar.
Adam Duvall — Already 36, he’s a former Gold Glove winner who once had a 38-homer season and won an RBI crown — something Willie Mays never did. Signing late last year hurt him so he needs to find a home fast. Staying in Atlanta is probably his best bet, as he’s loved in the clubhouse.
Jose Iglesias — Part middle infielder and part good-luck charm, this smooth-fielding songwriter ignited the Mets’ clubhouse last summer with his OMG hit. He swings a better bat than Arcia and signing him would prevent the Mets from keeping him. Sounds like a good deal right there.
Kiké Hernández — He plays everything but the bass fiddle and always plays his best during the post-season. His Dodgers pedigree would help in the Atlanta clubhouse. Plus he can play any position for extended periods — maybe even shortstop on an everyday basis.
Lance Lynn — Still younger than Charlie Morton, who split for Baltimore, he’d be a great back-of-the-rotation starter if he’s healthy. And keeping him away from the Mets and Phillies is probably a good idea.
A cool million or two per player might prove persuasive to these players, who all know they’ll make more from post-season play. What say you, Alex Anthopoulos?
Here’s The Pitch weekend editor Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ has been a Braves fan since 1957, when Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews were in their prime. He’s written two Aaron biographies 50 years apart plus 40 other baseball books. Email Dan at ballauthor@gmail.com.
Extra Innings
The Here’s the Pitch 2025 book (ACTA Publications) leads off with an essay that questions Aaron Judge’s ability to reach 500 home runs . . .
Age is a big one — he turns 33 in April — but last year he set a record for fewest games needed to reach 300 (955) and fewest at-bats needed for 300 (3,431) . . .
He enters the 2025 season with 315 but trails Yankees teammates Giancarlo Stanton (429) and Paul Goldschmidt (362) . . .
Ex-Yankee Juan Soto has homered against each of the 30 teams . . .
Soto not only had a three-homer game last year but also joined Judge and Stanton in producing three consecutive home runs in a game . . .
The least likely tandem to connect back-to-back in 2024 were Boston’s Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O’Neill, who hit consecutive home runs twice in the same game on Sept. 9.
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@outlook.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.
I didn't realize Aaron Judge was 33. So, Even if he hits 50 the next 3 years he's still 35 short of 500. And yet he's probably going to be remembered more for that dropped fly ball than hitting 500 HR.