Books and articles about Marv Throneberry

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Marv Throneberry became one of the most celebrated .237 hitters in baseball history. A highly touted young Yankee with( -h)h)h)a Mickey Mantle look-alike batting stance, he had the power to be a home run hitter. But he struck out in almost one-half of his at-bats and was a part-timer with the Yankees. He played in obscurity with the A's and Orioles before being acquired by the 1962 Mets. He soon became the living symbol of Met futility (in fact, his initials spelled M-E-T) with his untimely hitting, inept fielding, and atrocious baserunning. Against the Cubs on June 17, he hit a triple but was called out for not touching first base. When manager Casey Stengel went out to argue, the umpire told him that Throneberry had missed second as well. Facetiously dubbed Marvelous Marv, the good-natured first baseman capitalized on his comic ineptitude and became a media and fan favorite. But when he disagreed with Met management over his 1963 salary, he was quickly and unconditionally released. He resurfaced 20 years later as a deadpan comic in popular beer commercials. His brother, Faye, was an AL outfielder. (GDW)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 25, 1959: Against Detroit, Yankee first baseman Moose Skowron reaching for a wide throw collides with Tiger runner Coot Veale. Skowron's arm is broken in two places and he is out for the rest of the season. Marv Throneberry will fill in at 1B. The Yanks win, 9–8, when Berra hits a home run in the 9th with Mickey Mantle on. Prior to the Yogi home run, Richardson and Brickell hit their first ML homers for NY. Berra's home run erases five Yankee errors, three by 3B Lopez. » December 11, 1959: The A's Arnold Johnson gives the New York Yankees an early Christmas present when he gift wraps Roger Maris in pinstripes. The Yankees acquire the slugger in a 7-player deal that sends P Don Larsen, RF Hank Bauer, 1B Marv Throneberry, and LF Norm Siebern to the Athletics. » June 7, 1961: The O's trade OF Gene Stephens to the A's for 1B Marv Throneberry. » May 9, 1962: The Orioles ship Marvelous Marv Throneberry to the Mets for C Hobie Landrith and cash. » June 17, 1962: Mets 1B Marv Throneberry hits an apparent triple, but misses both 1B and 2B, and is called out on an appeal play. The Cubs eke out an 8–7 win. » August 2, 1962: Phils P Art Mahaffey gives up two home runs to Frank Thomas and two more to Marv Throneberry, but negates those with a grand slam of his own in the 3rd inning. Mahaffey tops the Mets 9–4 at New York.