Oliver Marcell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oliver Marcell |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
|||
| Third baseman | |||
| Born: June 21, 1895 Thibodaux, Louisiana |
|||
| Died: June 12, 1949 (aged 53) Denver, Colorado |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| 1918, for the Bacharach Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1930, for the Brooklyn Royal Giants | |||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
Oliver Marcell (born June 21, 1895 – died June 12, 1949) was a fantastic baseball player. People called him "Ghost" because he was so quick. He played third baseman and shortstop in the Negro Leagues from 1918 to 1931. Oliver was born in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He was a right-handed batter and thrower.
Contents
Oliver Marcell's Baseball Career
Oliver Marcell played for many teams during his career. He was known for his amazing skills. He played for teams like the Bacharach Giants and the Brooklyn Royal Giants.
Great Hitting Skills
Oliver Marcell was a very strong hitter. In 1922, he played for the Bacharach Giants. He had a .379 batting average. This means he got a hit almost 38% of the times he tried. In 1924, he hit even better. He had a .352 average for the Bacharach Giants and the New York Lincoln Giants.
Amazing Defensive Plays
While Oliver was a great hitter, his defense was even more famous. Many people thought he was the best fielding third baseman in the Negro Leagues. Some even said he was the best of all time. Baseball Hall of Famer Judy Johnson said Oliver was a better defender than him. Oliver and shortstop Dick Lundy formed one of the best infield pairs ever.
Playing in the Negro World Series
Oliver Marcell played in two Negro World Series. He played both times for the Bacharach Giants. In one series, he had a .293 batting average. He also had six RBIs in 11 games. In the other series, he had a .235 average with two RBIs in nine games. Oliver also played very well against white players. In 17 special games, he hit .365. This shows how talented he was. In 1952, a famous poll asked players to name the best Negro League players. Oliver Marcell was ranked higher than Hall of Famers Judy Johnson and Ray Dandridge.
Playing in Cuba
Oliver Marcell also played baseball in Cuba during the winter. He was a very important player in the Cuban Winter League. In the 1923-24 season, he led the league with a .393 batting average. Overall, he had a .305 average in Cuba.
End of His Career
Oliver Marcell's career ended sooner than expected. After playing for the Detroit Stars, he did not play much longer. His final career batting average was around .315. He also hit 11 home runs. Oliver Marcell passed away in 1949 in Denver, Colorado. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Riverside Cemetery.
