Marvin Freeman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marvin Freeman |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: April 10, 1963 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 16, 1986, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 14, 1996, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 35–28 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.64 | ||
| Strikeouts | 383 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Marvin Freeman (born April 10, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. He played from 1986 to 1996. His teams included the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Colorado Rockies. Marvin worked as both a starting pitcher and a reliever during his career.
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Marvin Freeman's Early Life and Baseball Start
Marvin Freeman was nicknamed "Starvin' Marvin." This was because he was very tall (6 feet 6 inches) but weighed only 180 pounds. Before becoming a baseball star, he worked at a company in Chicago. This company made high-quality violin bows.
He went to Chicago Vocational High School. Later, he played college baseball at Jackson State University. In 1983, he played summer baseball for the Chatham A's. This team was part of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Drafted by the Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies picked Marvin Freeman in the second round of the 1984 draft. He had been drafted before by the Montreal Expos in 1981, but he didn't sign with them then.
Marvin started his professional baseball journey in 1984. He played for the Bend team in the Northwest League. He had a good start, winning 8 games and losing 5. His earned run average (ERA) was 2.61, which is very good.
Making it to the Major Leagues
In 1986, after playing well in the minor leagues, Marvin got to join the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his first MLB appearance on September 16, 1986. He won his first game against the New York Mets on September 21, 1986. This was a special day because his first child was born on the same day!
He stayed with the Phillies organization for about three and a half more seasons. He moved between their top minor league team (AAA) and the major leagues. During this time, he even pitched a "no-hitter" game for the Maine Guides! A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn't let the other team get any hits.
Time with the Atlanta Braves
In 1990, Marvin Freeman was traded to the Atlanta Braves. While playing for the Braves, he became much better at controlling his pitches. He was mostly used as a relief pitcher. This means he would come into the game after the starting pitcher.
From 1990 to 1992, he played in 101 games for Atlanta. He had a record of 9 wins and 5 losses, with a good ERA of 3.16. He helped the Braves reach the World Series twice. However, he didn't have great success in the postseason games. In 1993, he faced some injuries and his performance wasn't as strong. After that season, the Braves released him.
Success with the Colorado Rockies
Just four days after leaving the Braves, Marvin Freeman signed with the Colorado Rockies. Even though he hadn't started a game since 1990, he earned a spot in the Rockies' starting rotation for the 1994 season. This happened because another pitcher, Kent Bottenfield, broke his hand.
A Standout 1994 Season
Marvin had an amazing 1994 season! He finished with 10 wins and only 2 losses. His ERA was an incredible 2.80. If he had pitched enough innings to officially qualify, his ERA would have been the second best in all of baseball. Only Greg Maddux, who won the Cy Young Award that year, had a better ERA.
Marvin Freeman finished fourth in the voting for the Cy Young Award. This was the highest finish for any Rockies pitcher until 2010. One special moment in 1994 was when the Rockies finally beat the Braves. This was the first time in 17 tries! Marvin pitched a great game against famous pitcher Tom Glavine. Sadly, his fantastic season was cut short by a players' strike.
Challenges in 1995 and 1996
Marvin started the 1995 season with a sore elbow. This injury affected his pitching. His ERA was high, and he was moved to the bullpen. He later had surgery on his elbow. This meant he missed the Rockies' first-ever trip to the postseason.
He returned to the starting rotation in 1996. His performance was better at first, but it got worse as the season went on. He had a great game on June 12 at Coors Field. He pitched seven scoreless innings. He and two relievers combined for the Rockies' first shutout at Coors Field in 103 games!
Later in 1996, he had some difficulties. The Rockies placed him on waivers, and he was claimed by his hometown team, the Chicago White Sox. He only made one start for them before the season ended.
End of His Baseball Career
Marvin Freeman became a free agent at the end of the 1996 season. He tried to join the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997. However, he only pitched one inning for their minor league team before ending his baseball career.
A Fun Clubhouse Personality
Marvin Freeman was known for being a lively and fun person in the clubhouse. He once said he was like "WD-40," a lubricant that helps things move smoothly. He liked to draw attention to himself to help his teammates relax. Rockies fans will always remember his terrific 1994 season. His 10-2 record and 2.80 ERA that year are still a Rockies record.
