Farm Boy Pitched His Way to Fame
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Brenham, Texas | The Banner-Press | Sunday, May 12, 2019 | Page A5 TEXAS HISTORY Farm boy pitched his way to fame The long baseball ca- When word got out that that his prize prospect was a one- the first-string reliever faltered, bullpen in 1926, he had 22 saves in reer of Fred “Firpo” Mar- there was a pitching phe- pitch wonder, the Washington man- Harris called upon Firpo more and 59 relief appearances, a record that berry, the major league’s nom, who was as strong ager and coaches thought he had more often, and he responded with stood for 23 years. first relief pitcher, ended an ox and almost as big lost his mind. But one look at the 15 “saves” in 35 relief appearances When Walter Johnson changed on May 9, 1941 with his (six-foot-one and 200 Texan’s fastball convinced them to in addition to 14 starts. roles in 1929, going from player to unconditional release by pounds), in the neighbor- put him in the starting rotation. His 11-12 won-loss record was no manager, Firpo got what he wanted the Fort Worth Cats of the hood, the Mexia Gushers Marberry had been on the Sena- true indication of his contribution — more starts. Again he rose to the Texas League. made a beeline for the tors roster only a month, when team- to the Senators’ first American challenge with a combined 58-25 re- Even though Fred Mar- BARTEE Marberry farm. Given mates stuck him with the nickname League pennant. cord during “The Big Train’s” four berry was the 10th child HAILE the choice of spending that he hated. Someone noticed that Despite his age and inexperience, years at the helm. born to a Mississippi cou- his afternoons on a dia- when the big rookie scowled, he bore Marberry was immune to the pres- Both Johnson and Marberry left ple who resettled in north central mond or his life behind a plow, the a vague resemblance to Luis Firpo, sure of the World Series. He was Washington after the 1932 season. Texas, there were only four siblings youth picked baseball. the hulking Argentine boxer that a lifesaver in game two, striking Worried that his suddenly sore arm waiting to welcome him in 1898. After three months in the Class knocked Jack Dempsey out of the out the one batter he faced to hold was a permanent condition, the The other five were already dead D Texas-Oklahoma League, Fred ring on Sep. 14, 1923. From that day the New York Giants in check and Senators traded Firpo to Detroit. and gone. moved up a class to the Cotton on, Fred was “Firpo.” making it possible for the Senators He proved them wrong by chalking Growing up on a farm near Street- States League in Mississippi. Still That same season the Senators to rally for the win in the bottom of up 16 victories for the Tigers in 1933 man south of Dallas, Fred had no unhittable, he leapfrogged to the came up with a radical new idea — the ninth. and 15 in 1934. time for extracurricular activities. Southern Association just one lev- a backup pitcher whose job it was Firpo was not at his best in his But Fred “Firpo” Marberry nev- After school, weekends and in the el below the big leagues finishing to “relieve” the starter, whenev- lone start, as he gave up four runs er won another major-league game summer, there were always plenty the 1922 season with the Little Rock er he got into trouble or ran out of in three shaky innings in game and by June 1936 was back in the of chores to do. Except for an occa- Travelers. gas. This was pure heresy at a time three. But he was the ever-reliable minors. He pitched four more sea- sional game with the local amateur Back with the Travelers the next when starting pitchers were expect- “fireman” the next day with two sons with clubs like the Dallas team, he played very little baseball year, the strong-armed farm boy ed to finish what they started. For perfect innings in relief that helped Steers and Rebels and Fort Worth in his teens. continued to overpower batters. example, Walter Johnson, the Sen- the Senators tie the Series at two Cats of the Texas League before Then came the life-changing day Hearing there was a young pitcher ators’ ace when Marberry joined games apiece on the way to their finally calling it a career at 42. He Fred took his turn on the pitcher’s with a fastball that had to be seen to the team, went nine full innings in first and last world championship. went back to his roots and lived in mound. He just reared back and be believed, a scout for the Washing- 80 percent of his 666 starts over 21 While Washington began a steady Mexia until his death in 1977. threw the ball with all his might. ton Senators caught the next train seasons. decline into decades of mediocrity ——— The result was a blazing fastball for Little Rock. He returned to the Under new manager Bucky Har- after back-to-back pennants in 1924 Haile welcomes comments and that baffled batters, and he did it nation’s capital a few days later with ris, Marberry began the 1924 cam- and 1925, Marberry matured into questions at [email protected] again and again with amazing accu- Fred Marberry under contract. paign as an extra starter and the baseball’s first great relief pitcher. or P.O. Box 130011, Spring, Texas racy. When the excited scout explained number-two relief pitcher. When Used almost exclusively out of the 77393. Not Real News: A look at what didn’t happen this week Some of the most popular, but completely untrue stories, visuals widely shared on social media By Beatrice Dupuy and cines and autism has been billion includes $50 billion are physically disabled who tation to polling places. ——— Amanda Seitz exhaustively studied over in expected future disaster want to vote curbside from The GOP-backed bill, This is part of The Associ- many years, in dozens of disbursements that could the polls, allowing them to which passed the state Sen- ated Press’ ongoing effort to The Associated Press investigations and through span decades, according to vote from their car,” Sam ate in April, also would fact-check misinformation some of the largest scientific the White House. Taylor, a spokesman for the stiffen penalties for elec- that is shared widely online, A roundup of some of the studies ever undertaken.” That expenditure has not Texas secretary of state’s of- tion-related crimes, includ- including work with Face- most popular but completely Posts circulating on Face- been approved by Congress fice, told the AP. ing making it a felony to put book to identify and reduce untrue stories and visuals of book that make the claim and is based on Puerto Ri- In those cases, drivers false information on a voter the circulation of false sto- the week. show a label that came with co’s eligibility for emergen- would need to fill out a form registration form. ries on the platform. None of these is legit, even Sanofi Pasteur’s Tripedia cy disaster aid in future providing their name and Civil right groups have ——— though they were shared DTaP in 2005. years, according to an AP address, as well as their re- rebuked it, saying it would Find all AP Fact Checks widely on social media. It included autism on a Fact Check published May 6. lationship to the voters and make voting in the state dif- here: https://www.apnews. The Associated Press long list of “adverse events” Even if the U.S. had spent the reason for the transpor- ficult and bureaucratic. c om/A PFa ctChe ck . checked these out. because some consumers $91 billion on hurricane re- Here are the real facts: had sent in that claim with- covery aid to Puerto Rico, as ——— out scientific evidence. Trump claimed, it would not Claim: Photo shows pres- Since then, the FDA has be the most aid given out in idential hopeful Sen. Bernie changed its labeling rules U.S. history. You r ne ws Creative Arts Camp Sanders shaking hands with and now only includes ad- The U.S. government spent a young man and pointing verse events “for which $120 billion after Hurricane anytime, @st. peter’s episcopal church to his T-shirt, which says: there is some basis to be- Katrina, with most of the “Listen here, Bud, America lieve there is a causal rela- money going to Louisiana, deserved 9/11.” tionship,” the agency told the AP has reported. a nywhe re The Facts: The photo has the AP in a statement last ——— been manipulated. year, when similar reports Claim: Texas Sen. Bryan online! June 10 – 14, 2019 The T-shirt worn by a resurfaced. Hughes’ proposed election With a subscription, get 8:30 am. – 12:30 pm. Sanders supporter at a cam- Tripedia has not been reform bill will make it il- the e-Edition delivered paign event has no writing used as a vaccine in the U.S. legal to transport groups of right to your inbox. 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