Jim Marshall (baseball)

Rufus James Marshall (born May 25, 1931, in Danville, Illinois) is a former first baseman and manager in American Major League Baseball. Marshall managed the Chicago Cubs (1974-76) and the Oakland Athletics (1979) but never enjoyed a winning season in either post. His career major league managing record was 229-326 (.413) and his '79 A's squad lost 108 of 162 games (.333).

Marshall attended Long Beach State University. A lefthanded hitter and thrower, he was a productive hitter in his minor league days in the Pacific Coast League of the 1950s, leading the PCL in home runs (31) and runs batted in (123) as a member of the 1954 Oakland Oaks.

His major league playing career was distinguished by two circumstances: he was part of the first interleague trade (without waivers) in baseball history when he was dealt by the Cubs to the Boston Red Sox on November 21, 1959, and he was the starting first baseman in the first National League game ever played by the "Amazin'" New York Mets in 1962.

Overall, Marshall appeared in 410 games over five seasons (1958-62) and batted .242 with 29 home runs. In addition to the Cubs and Mets, he played for the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. He never appeared in an official game for the Red Sox, who traded him to the Giants for pitcher Al Worthington during spring training in 1960.

Marshall played baseball in Japan (with the Chunichi Dragons) from 1963-67 and was a successful minor league manager during the 1970s and 1980s. He is currently a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

External links

*
*baseball-reference manager|id=marshji01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Marshall_Jim.stm Baseball Library]