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{{short description|American baseball player and manager}}
{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (1891–1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Rabbit Maranville
|name=Rabbit Maranville
|image=Rabbit Maranville 1914.jpg
|image=Rabbit Maranville 1914.jpg
|caption= Maranville in 1914
|position=[[Shortstop]] / [[Second baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|position=[[Shortstop]] / [[Second baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1891|11|11}}
|birth_date={{birth date|1891|11|11}}
|birth_place=[[Springfield, Massachusetts]]
|birth_place=[[Springfield, Massachusetts]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1954|1|6|1891|11|11}}
|death_date={{Death date and age|1954|1|6|1891|11|11}}
|death_place=[[Woodside, Queens]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
|death_place=[[Woodside, Queens|Woodside, New York]], U.S.
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
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|hoftype = National
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1954]]
|hofdate=[[1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1954]]
|hofvote=82.94% (14th ballot)
|hofvote=82.9% (14th ballot)
}}
}}
'''Walter James Vincent "Rabbit" Maranville''' (November 11, 1891 – January 6, 1954) was an American [[professional baseball]] [[shortstop]], [[second baseman]] and [[Manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Brooklyn Robins]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] between 1912 and 1934. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the [[National League]], a mark which wasn't broken until 1986 by [[Pete Rose]].<ref name="statistics">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maranra01.shtml "Rabbit Maranville Statistics and History"]. "baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on 2017-05-14.</ref>
'''Walter James Vincent''' "'''Rabbit'''" '''Maranville''' (November 11, 1891 – January 6, 1954) was an American [[professional baseball]] [[shortstop]], [[second baseman]] and [[Manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Brooklyn Robins]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] between 1912 and 1934. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], a mark which was not broken until 1986 by [[Pete Rose]].<ref name="statistics">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maranra01.shtml "Rabbit Maranville Statistics and History"]. baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on May 14, 2017.</ref>


Maranville was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1954, mainly on the strength of his defensive abilities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rabbit Maranville |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/maranville-rabbit |publisher=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=20 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
==Career==


⚫
==Career==
Maranville finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season, playing for the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] as a 21-year-old in 1913 even though his batting average was just .247 in 143 games with two homers. The following year, Maranville was the runner-up in the MVP voting to teammate [[Johnny Evers]] as the Braves won the National League pennant and then went on to sweep the powerful [[Philadelphia A's]] in the World Series. That year, Maranville was the Braves' cleanup hitter, despite batting just .246 and hitting four home runs. Following the series, he and several of his teammates went on a [[vaudeville]] tour, reenacting plays from the World Series while also singing and telling stories. Maranville was demonstrating a stolen base to an audience in [[Lewiston, Maine]], when he accidentally slid off the edge of the stage and fell onto a drum in the orchestra pit, suffering a broken leg.<ref name="Russo 63">Russo, p. 63</ref> Maranville played only 11 games in 1918, spending most of the year in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War I]].<ref name="Russo 64">Russo, p. 64</ref>
Maranville finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season, playing for the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] as a 21-year-old in 1913 even though his batting average was just .247 in 143 games with two homers. The following year, Maranville was the runner-up in the MVP voting to teammate [[Johnny Evers]] as the Braves won the National League pennant and then went on to sweep the powerful [[Philadelphia A's]] in the World Series. That year, Maranville was the Braves' cleanup hitter, despite batting just .246 and hitting four home runs. Following the series, he and several of his teammates went on a [[vaudeville]] tour, reenacting plays from the World Series while also singing and telling stories. Maranville was demonstrating a stolen base to an audience in [[Lewiston, Maine]], when he accidentally slid off the edge of the stage and fell onto a drum in the orchestra pit, suffering a broken leg.<ref name="Russo 63">Russo, p. 63</ref> Maranville played only 11 games in 1918, spending most of the year in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War I]].<ref name="Russo 64">Russo, p. 64</ref>


[[File:RabbitMaranvilleGoudeycard.jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Goudey]] baseball card of Walter "Rabbit" Maranville, 1933]]
[[File:RabbitMaranvilleGoudeycard.jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Goudey]] baseball card of Walter "Rabbit" Maranville, 1933]]
Over a lengthy career which spanned both the [[dead-ball era|dead ball]] and [[live-ball era]], Maranville played for the [[History of the Boston Braves|Boston Braves]] (1912–1920, 1929–1933, 1935), [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1921–1924), [[Chicago Cubs]] (1925), [[Brooklyn Robins]] (1926) and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1927–1928). He retired having compiled a .258 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], 2,605 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 1,255 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 28 [[home run]]s, 884 [[runs batted in|RBI]] and 291 [[stolen base]]s. As a shortstop, he finished his career with a positional record 5,139 [[putout]]s.<ref name="Baseball Encyclopedia">{{cite book |author1=Pietrusza, David |author2=Matthew Silverman |author3=Gershman, Michael |title=Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Total Sports |location=New York |year=2000 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/baseballbiograph00matt/page/707 707–708] |isbn=1-892129-34-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/baseballbiograph00matt/page/707 }}</ref> He moved to second base in 1924 after the Pirates installed [[Glenn Wright]] at the shortstop position.<ref name="Russo 64"/> He won his only [[World Series]] championship in 1914 as a member of the Braves, and won his only other [[National League]] championship in 1928 as a member of the Cardinals.
Maranville threw and batted right-handed; he stood {{cvt|5|ft|5|in}} tall and weighed {{cvt|155|lb}}. Over a lengthy career which spanned both the [[dead-ball era|dead ball]] and [[live-ball era]], he played for the [[History of the Boston Braves|Boston Braves]] (1912–1920, 1929–1933, 1935), [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] (1921–1924), [[Chicago Cubs]] (1925), [[Brooklyn Robins]] (1926) and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1927–1928). He retired having compiled a .258 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]], 2,605 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 1,255 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 28 [[home run]]s, 884 [[runs batted in|RBI]] and 291 [[stolen base]]s. As a shortstop, he finished his career with a positional record 5,139 [[putout]]s.<ref name="Baseball Encyclopedia">{{cite book |author1= Pietrusza, David |author2= Matthew Silverman |author3= Gershman, Michael |title=Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Total Sports |location=New York |year=2000 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/baseballbiograph00matt/page/707 707–708] |isbn=1-892129-34-5 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/baseballbiograph00matt/page/707}}</ref> He moved to second base in 1924 after the Pirates installed [[Glenn Wright]] at the shortstop position.<ref name="Russo 64"/> He won his only [[World Series]] championship in 1914 as a member of the Braves, and won his only other [[National League (baseball)|National League]] championship in 1928 as a member of the Cardinals.


Maranville was known as one of "baseball's most famous clowns" due to his practical jokes and lack of inhibitions.<ref name="james">{{JamesAbstract|pages= 615–617}}</ref> He used to don a pair of glasses to make fun of umpires and mimic the actions of hitters or pitchers who took an especially long time to get ready.<ref name="Russo 64">Russo, p. 64</ref> Other stunts he pulled included throwing firecrackers, stepping out on hotel ledges, and swallowing goldfish.<ref name="Russo 64"/> On a road trip to New York, Maranville had teammate [[Jack Scott (baseball)|Jack Scott]] cry "Stop, thief!" as Scott chased him through [[Times Square]].<ref name="Russo 64"/> Another time, his concerned teammates broke into his hotel room after hearing screams, breaking glass, and gunshots emanating from within, as well as Maranville groaning, "Eddie, you're killing me!" An unharmed Maranville and two friends greeted the players like nothing was wrong as they wandered out of the room.<ref name="Russo 64"/> When Maranville was appointed manager of the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 1925—one of their worst seasons ever—he continued to demonstrate his wild behavior.<ref name="Nash 134"/> His only rule with the team was that none of the players could go to bed before he did.<ref name="Russo 64"/> One night he went through a [[Pullman car]] dumping water on sleeping players' heads, saying, "No sleeping under Maranville management, especially at night."<ref name="Nash 134"/> After 53 games with him as the manager, the Cubs were in last place with a 23–30 record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/maranra01.shtml|title=Rabbit Maranville Managerial Record|work=Baseball-Reference|accessdate=June 25, 2021}}</ref> Not long after that, he was out on the street outside [[Ebbets Field]] in [[Brooklyn]] mimicking a newsboy hawking papers. He cried out, "Read all about it! Maranville fired!" And so he was—the next day.<ref name="Nash 134">Nash, B. & Zullo, A. ''The Baseball Hall of Shame 3'', 1987; p. 134</ref>
Maranville was known as one of "baseball's most famous clowns" due to his [[practical joke]]s and lack of inhibitions.<ref name="james">{{JamesAbstract|pages=615–617}}</ref> He used to don a pair of glasses to make fun of umpires and mimic the actions of hitters or pitchers who took an especially long time to get ready.<ref name="Russo 64">Russo, p. 64</ref> Other stunts he pulled included throwing firecrackers, stepping out on hotel ledges, and [[goldfish swallowing |swallowing goldfish]].<ref name= "Russo 64" /> On a road trip to New York, Maranville had teammate [[Jack Scott (baseball)|Jack Scott]] cry "Stop, thief!" as Scott chased him through [[Times Square]].<ref name="Russo 64" /> Another time, his concerned teammates broke into his hotel room after hearing screams, breaking glass, and gunshots emanating from within, as well as Maranville groaning, "Eddie, you're killing me!" An unharmed Maranville and two friends greeted the players like nothing was wrong as they wandered out of the room.<ref name="Russo 64" /> When Maranville was appointed manager of the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 1925—one of their worst seasons ever—he continued to demonstrate his wild behavior.<ref name="Nash 134"/> His only rule with the team was that none of the players could go to bed before he did.<ref name="Russo 64"/> One night he walked through a [[Pullman car]], dumping water on sleeping players' heads, saying, "No sleeping under Maranville management, especially at night."<ref name="Nash 134"/> After 53 games with him as the manager, the Cubs were in last place with a 23–30 record.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/maranra01.shtml|title=Rabbit Maranville Managerial Record|work=Baseball-Reference.com| accessdate=June 25, 2021}}</ref> Not long after that, he was out on the street outside [[Ebbets Field]] in [[Brooklyn]] mimicking a newsboy hawking papers. He cried out, "Read all about it! Maranville fired!" And so he was—the next day.<ref name="Nash 134">Nash, B. & Zullo, A. ''The Baseball Hall of Shame 3'', 1987; p. 134</ref>


1926 was a struggle for Maranville. Having been claimed off waivers by the Brooklyn Robins, he spent the first half of the season with them but was released halfway through the year. The Cardinals signed him that November but assigned him to the [[Rochester Red Wings|Rochester Tribe]] of the [[International League]] in 1927. Maranville realized he would have to make a change in his lifestyle if he wanted to continue playing in the major leagues. "Either I had to lay off the booze and get serious with the game or it would be the end of me."<ref name="Russo 65">Russo, p. 65</ref>
1926 was a struggle for Maranville. Having been claimed off waivers by the Brooklyn Robins, he spent the first half of the season with them but was released halfway through the year. The Cardinals signed him that November but assigned him to the [[Rochester Red Wings|Rochester Tribe]] of the [[International League]] in 1927. Maranville realized he would have to make a change in his lifestyle if he wanted to continue playing in the major leagues. "Either I had to lay off the booze and get serious with the game or it would be the end of me."<ref name="Russo 65">Russo, p. 65</ref>


On May 24, 1927, Maranville resolved to stop drinking. Later that year, Cardinals general manager [[Branch Rickey]] stated, "Walter is a changed man...it is apparent that he has seen the light...his change in attitude is remarkable."<ref name="Russo 65"/> Called up by St. Louis at the end of the year, he played in nine games for them in late September before spending all of 1928 on their roster.<ref name="Russo 65"/>
On May 24, 1927, Maranville resolved to stop drinking. Later that year, Cardinals general manager [[Branch Rickey]] stated, "Walter is a changed man ... it is apparent that he has seen the light ... his change in attitude is remarkable."<ref name="Russo 65" /> Called up by St. Louis at the end of the year, he played in nine games for them in late September before spending all of 1928 on their roster.<ref name="Russo 65" />


⚫
Even at age 41, when Maranville batted .218 in 143 games and hit no homers, he finished in a tie for 12th in the 1933 NL MVP voting.<ref>{{cite web |title= 1933 Awards Voting |url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1933.shtml |website=baseball-reference.com |publisher=Sports-Reference, LLC. |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref> He missed the entire 1934 season after breaking his left [[fibula]] and [[tibia]] in a collision at home plate during an exhibition game.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Weeks |first1=Jonathan |title=Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History |date=2012 |publisher= Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-8533-2 |page=95 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJhweXG0y58C&pg=PA95 |language=en}}</ref> Maranville attempted a comeback in 1935 but was unable to play like he used to.<ref name="Russo 65"/>
Even at age 41, when Maranville batted .218 in 143 games and hit no homers, he finished in a tie for 12th in the 1933 NL MVP voting.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

⚫
He missed the entire 1934 season after breaking his left [[fibula]] and [[tibia]] in a collision at home plate during an exhibition game.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Weeks |first1=Jonathan |title=Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History |date=2012 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-8533-2 |page=95 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJhweXG0y58C&pg=PA95 |language=en}}</ref> Maranville attempted a comeback in 1935 but was unable to play like he used to.<ref name="Russo 65"/>
⚫
[[File:Baseball. Kies; Marainville; Smythe BAnQ P48S1P02091.jpg|thumbnail|left|Rabbit Maranville (center) when manager of the Montreal Royals between two players, Norman Kies and Harry Smythe, 1938]]


⚫
[[File:Baseball. Kies; Marainville; Smythe BAnQ P48S1P02091.jpg|thumbnail|left|Rabbit Maranville (center) as manager of the Montreal Royals between two players, 1938]]
Following the end of his major league career, Maranville turned to managing, including stints as a minor league manager for [[Montreal Royals]], at [[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[Elmira, New York|Elmira]], and [[Springfield, Massachusetts]].<ref name=Eagle>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2550891/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ "Rabbit Maranville Dies at 62; Sparkplug of '14 'Miracle' Braves,"] ''Brooklyn Eagle'', vol. 113, no. 5 (January 6, 1954), pp. 1, 15.</ref> With Elmira in 1936, he served as a player-manager, batting .323 in 123 games.<ref name="Russo 65"/>
Following the end of his major league career, Maranville turned to managing, including stints as a minor league manager for [[Montreal Royals]], at [[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[Elmira, New York|Elmira]], and [[Springfield, Massachusetts]].<ref name=Eagle>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2550891/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ "Rabbit Maranville Dies at 62; Sparkplug of '14 'Miracle' Braves,"] ''Brooklyn Eagle'', vol. 113, no. 5 (January 6, 1954), pp. 1, 15.</ref> With Elmira in 1936, he served as a player-manager, batting .323 in 123 games.<ref name="Russo 65"/>


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==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
Maranville died as the result of a severe [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] shortly after midnight on January 6, 1954, at his home in [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside, New York]], where death was nearly instantaneous.<ref name=Eagle /> He was 62 years old.


Rabbit Maranville died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] shortly after midnight on January 6, 1954 at his home in [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside, New York]].<ref name=Eagle /> Death was nearly instantaneous.<ref name=Eagle /> He was 62 years old. Maranville was buried in the Holy Family Section B, Lot 206, Grave 5, of the St. Michael's Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts.<ref>Russo, pp. 65-66</ref>
Maranville was interred in the Holy Family Section B, Lot 206, Grave 5, of the St. Michael's Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts.<ref>Russo, pp. 65–66</ref>


Maranville was inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1954, just months after his death,<ref>Russo, p. 66</ref> along with [[Bill Terry]] and [[Bill Dickey]], in his 14th year of eligibility.{{citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Maranville was inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1954, six months after his death,<ref>Russo, p. 66</ref> along with [[Bill Terry]] and [[Bill Dickey]], in his 14th year of eligibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=1954 Hall of Fame Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1954.shtml |website=baseball-reference.com |publisher=Sports-Reference, LLC. |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball player-managers]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball player-managers]]

==Further reading==
⚫
*{{cite book|last=Russo|first=Frank|title=The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises|location=New York|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4422-3639-4}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

⚫
*{{cite book|last=Russo|first=Frank|title=The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises|location=New York|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4422-3639-4}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Rabbit Maranville}}
{{Commons category|Rabbit Maranville}}
{{bbhof|maranville-rabbit}}
*{{bbhof|maranville-rabbit}}
{{Baseballstats|br=m/maranra01|brm=maranv001wal}}
*{{Baseballstats|br=m/maranra01|brm=maranv001wal}}
* [https://baseballbiography.com/rabbit-maranville Rabbit Maranville Biography at Baseball Biography]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060616023245/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Maranville_Rabbit.stm Baseball Library]
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/maranra01.shtml Baseball-Reference]
* [https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/maranra01.shtml Baseball-Reference]
* {{Find a Grave}}
* {{Find a Grave}}
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{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals HOF}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals HOF}}
{{Atlanta Braves HOF}}
{{Braves Hall of Fame}}
{{1914 Boston Braves}}
{{1914 Boston Braves}}
{{Chicago Cubs managers}}
{{Chicago Cubs managers}}
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[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1954 deaths]]
[[Category:1954 deaths]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Albany Senators players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:American people of French descent]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball player-managers]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Boston Braves players]]
[[Category:Boston Braves players]]
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[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
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[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs managers]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Robins players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Robins players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs managers]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Springfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Elmira Pioneers players]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball player-managers]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:Montreal Royals managers]]
[[Category:Montreal Royals managers]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:New Bedford Whalers (baseball) players]]
[[Category:New Bedford Whalers (baseball) players]]
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[[Category:Rochester Tribe players]]
[[Category:Elmira Pioneers players]]
[[Category:Albany Senators players]]
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[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:People from Woodside, Queens]]
[[Category:People from Woodside, Queens]]
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[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
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[[Category:Rochester Tribe players]]
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[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
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[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]

Latest revision as of 09:13, 25 December 2024

Rabbit Maranville
Maranville in 1914
Shortstop / Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1891-11-11)November 11, 1891
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: January 6, 1954(1954-01-06) (aged 62)
Woodside, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 1912, for the Boston Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 1935, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average.258
Hits2,605
Home runs28
Runs batted in884
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1954
Vote82.9% (14th ballot)

Walter James Vincent "Rabbit" Maranville (November 11, 1891 – January 6, 1954) was an American professional baseball shortstop, second baseman and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Robins, and St. Louis Cardinals between 1912 and 1934. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the National League, a mark which was not broken until 1986 by Pete Rose.[1]

Maranville was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954, mainly on the strength of his defensive abilities.[2]

Career

[edit]

Maranville finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season, playing for the Boston Braves as a 21-year-old in 1913 even though his batting average was just .247 in 143 games with two homers. The following year, Maranville was the runner-up in the MVP voting to teammate Johnny Evers as the Braves won the National League pennant and then went on to sweep the powerful Philadelphia A's in the World Series. That year, Maranville was the Braves' cleanup hitter, despite batting just .246 and hitting four home runs. Following the series, he and several of his teammates went on a vaudeville tour, reenacting plays from the World Series while also singing and telling stories. Maranville was demonstrating a stolen base to an audience in Lewiston, Maine, when he accidentally slid off the edge of the stage and fell onto a drum in the orchestra pit, suffering a broken leg.[3] Maranville played only 11 games in 1918, spending most of the year in the United States Navy during World War I.[4]

Goudey baseball card of Walter "Rabbit" Maranville, 1933

Maranville threw and batted right-handed; he stood 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) tall and weighed 155 lb (70 kg). Over a lengthy career which spanned both the dead ball and live-ball era, he played for the Boston Braves (1912–1920, 1929–1933, 1935), Pittsburgh Pirates (1921–1924), Chicago Cubs (1925), Brooklyn Robins (1926) and St. Louis Cardinals (1927–1928). He retired having compiled a .258 batting average, 2,605 hits, 1,255 runs, 28 home runs, 884 RBI and 291 stolen bases. As a shortstop, he finished his career with a positional record 5,139 putouts.[5] He moved to second base in 1924 after the Pirates installed Glenn Wright at the shortstop position.[4] He won his only World Series championship in 1914 as a member of the Braves, and won his only other National League championship in 1928 as a member of the Cardinals.

Maranville was known as one of "baseball's most famous clowns" due to his practical jokes and lack of inhibitions.[6] He used to don a pair of glasses to make fun of umpires and mimic the actions of hitters or pitchers who took an especially long time to get ready.[4] Other stunts he pulled included throwing firecrackers, stepping out on hotel ledges, and swallowing goldfish.[4] On a road trip to New York, Maranville had teammate Jack Scott cry "Stop, thief!" as Scott chased him through Times Square.[4] Another time, his concerned teammates broke into his hotel room after hearing screams, breaking glass, and gunshots emanating from within, as well as Maranville groaning, "Eddie, you're killing me!" An unharmed Maranville and two friends greeted the players like nothing was wrong as they wandered out of the room.[4] When Maranville was appointed manager of the Chicago Cubs in 1925—one of their worst seasons ever—he continued to demonstrate his wild behavior.[7] His only rule with the team was that none of the players could go to bed before he did.[4] One night he walked through a Pullman car, dumping water on sleeping players' heads, saying, "No sleeping under Maranville management, especially at night."[7] After 53 games with him as the manager, the Cubs were in last place with a 23–30 record.[8] Not long after that, he was out on the street outside Ebbets Field in Brooklyn mimicking a newsboy hawking papers. He cried out, "Read all about it! Maranville fired!" And so he was—the next day.[7]

1926 was a struggle for Maranville. Having been claimed off waivers by the Brooklyn Robins, he spent the first half of the season with them but was released halfway through the year. The Cardinals signed him that November but assigned him to the Rochester Tribe of the International League in 1927. Maranville realized he would have to make a change in his lifestyle if he wanted to continue playing in the major leagues. "Either I had to lay off the booze and get serious with the game or it would be the end of me."[9]

On May 24, 1927, Maranville resolved to stop drinking. Later that year, Cardinals general manager Branch Rickey stated, "Walter is a changed man ... it is apparent that he has seen the light ... his change in attitude is remarkable."[9] Called up by St. Louis at the end of the year, he played in nine games for them in late September before spending all of 1928 on their roster.[9]

Even at age 41, when Maranville batted .218 in 143 games and hit no homers, he finished in a tie for 12th in the 1933 NL MVP voting.[10] He missed the entire 1934 season after breaking his left fibula and tibia in a collision at home plate during an exhibition game.[11] Maranville attempted a comeback in 1935 but was unable to play like he used to.[9]

Rabbit Maranville (center) when manager of the Montreal Royals between two players, Norman Kies and Harry Smythe, 1938

Following the end of his major league career, Maranville turned to managing, including stints as a minor league manager for Montreal Royals, at Albany, Elmira, and Springfield, Massachusetts.[12] With Elmira in 1936, he served as a player-manager, batting .323 in 123 games.[9]

After managing in the minor leagues, Maranville was employed by youth baseball programs in Detroit and Rochester. Then, he directed a baseball school sponsored by the New York Journal-American newspaper.[9][12] He enjoyed working with children and always cautioned them against adopting the same wild lifestyle he had pursued during his earlier career.[9]

Death and legacy

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Maranville died as the result of a severe heart attack shortly after midnight on January 6, 1954, at his home in Woodside, New York, where death was nearly instantaneous.[12] He was 62 years old.

Maranville was interred in the Holy Family Section B, Lot 206, Grave 5, of the St. Michael's Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts.[13]

Maranville was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954, six months after his death,[14] along with Bill Terry and Bill Dickey, in his 14th year of eligibility.[15]

See also

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Further reading

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  • Russo, Frank (2014). The Cooperstown Chronicles: Baseball's Colorful Characters, Unusual Lives, and Strange Demises. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-3639-4.

References

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  1. ^ "Rabbit Maranville Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on May 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "Rabbit Maranville". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Russo, p. 63
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Russo, p. 64
  5. ^ Pietrusza, David; Matthew Silverman; Gershman, Michael (2000). Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. New York: Total Sports. pp. 707–708. ISBN 1-892129-34-5.
  6. ^ James, Bill (April 6, 2003). The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: Free Press. pp. 615–617. ISBN 0743227220.
  7. ^ a b c Nash, B. & Zullo, A. The Baseball Hall of Shame 3, 1987; p. 134
  8. ^ "Rabbit Maranville Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Russo, p. 65
  10. ^ "1933 Awards Voting". baseball-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Weeks, Jonathan (2012). Cellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History. Scarecrow Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-8108-8533-2.
  12. ^ a b c "Rabbit Maranville Dies at 62; Sparkplug of '14 'Miracle' Braves," Brooklyn Eagle, vol. 113, no. 5 (January 6, 1954), pp. 1, 15.
  13. ^ Russo, pp. 65–66
  14. ^ Russo, p. 66
  15. ^ "1954 Hall of Fame Voting". baseball-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
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