Former New York Giant: Willard Marshall (1942-1949)

Willard Warren Marshall was born on February 8, 1921 in Richmond, Virginia. In 1939 he attended Wake Forest University, then played in the Southern League with the Atlanta Crackers. In 1942 his contract was sold to the New York Giants. He became new manager Mel Ott’s regular left fielder in his rookie season. Marshall batted .257 with 11 HRs & 59 RBIs making his first All Star team. He was a good contact hitter that struck out very rarely. He then did Military service in WW II for the next four years, missing some prime seasons of his baseball career.

He was in the league’s top 10 in HRs in 1946, and then made his next All Star appearance in 1947 when he enjoyed a career year. He hit 36 HRs (3rd in the league) drove in 107 runs (5th in the league) batting .291 with 107 hits and 102 runs scored. His best day came when he hit three consecutive HRs in a game that summer. He received 16% of the MVP voting that season as well. He would never reach those numbers again, but did hit a career high .307 two seasons later. He spent a totl of five solid seasons with the Giants before getting traded in 1949. He was part of a big deal in December 1949, with the Boston Braves. Marshall along with Sid Gordon, Buddy Kerr and Red Webb went to Boston for Alvin Dark and Eddie Stanky.


By June his contract was purchased by the Reds where he hit .266 & .267 over the next two seasons. He finished his career with the White Sox in 1955. In an eleven season career he batted .274 with 130 HRs 604 RBIs and only struck out 219 times in 4233 at bats.