Marv Throneberry

Marvin Eugene Throneberry (September 2, 1933 - June 23, 1994) was an American Major League Baseball player, best remembered as the starting first baseman for the 1962 New York Mets; a team which set the modern record for most losses in a season with 120 and is regarded by baseball historians as one of the worst baseball teams of all time.

Related Topics:
September 2 - 1933 - June 23 - 1994 - American - Major League Baseball - First baseman - 1962 - New York Mets

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A native of Collierville, Tennessee, Throneberry batted and threw left-handed. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1952, he made his major-league debut in September 1955. Throneberry made it back to the majors for good in 1958, and although he possessed good power—his swing drew comparisons to Mickey Mantle—he showed a tendency to strike out and difficulty fielding his position. As a result, he spent two seasons on the Yankees' bench before being included in a six-player trade for Kansas City Athletics power-hitting outfielder Roger Maris before the 1960 season.

Related Topics:
Collierville, Tennessee - New York Yankees - 1952 - 1955 - 1958 - Mickey Mantle - Kansas City Athletics - Outfielder - Roger Maris - 1960

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After a little more than one full season on Kansas City's bench, filling in at first base and right field, Kansas City traded Throneberry to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Gene Stephens in June 1961. Less than a year later, Baltimore traded him to the Mets for a player to be named later and cash.

Related Topics:
Right field - Baltimore Orioles - Gene Stephens - 1961 - Player to be named later

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With the Mets, Throneberry got his first chance as a regular, and he responded by hitting .244 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI. However, he committed 17 errors at first base and his fielding percentage of .981 would not be equaled by a major-league regular first baseman until César Cedeño fielded .981 in 1979 for the Astros.

Related Topics:
Home run - RBI - César Cedeño - 1979 - Astros

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Throneberry's baserunning was also suspect. On June 17, Throneberry hit a triple in a game against the Cubs, but was called out for not touching first base. In a famous story, manager Casey Stengel came out to argue the call, but was told by the umpire that Throneberry missed second base as well (in another version of the story, Stengel was told by his first-base coach). The next batter hit a home run, prompting Stengel to come out of the dugout and point at all four bases. Throneberry's mistake proved costly, as the Cubs won the game 8-7.

Related Topics:
June 17 - Triple - Cubs - Casey Stengel

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Throneberry, who facetiously came to be known as Marvelous Marv, maintained a sense of humor about his play and became a favorite with fans and the media. However, a disagreement the following year over his 1963 salary led to his abrupt retirement at age 29. He later became one of the original spokespeople for Miller Lite beer in the early 1980s. Throneberry's most famous line: "If I do for Lite what I did for baseball, I'm afraid their sales will go down."

Related Topics:
1963 - Miller Lite - Beer - 1980s

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In a seven-season career, Throneberry was a .237 hitter with 53 home runs and 170 RBI in 480 games. He died in Fisherville,Tennessee, at 60 years of age.

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