Tomasik: Rabbit Maranville helped Cardinals make pennant run

From SABR member Mark Tomasik at RetroSimba on August 31, 2017:

Heading into the final month of the season in pursuit of a second consecutive National League pennant, the Cardinals sought an upgrade to their infield defense. They took a chance on a light-hitting shortstop with a history of alcohol problems.

Rabbit Maranville fielded with flair. Pairing Maranville at shortstop with Frankie Frisch at second base gave the Cardinals a keystone combination of future Hall of Famers.

Ninety years ago, on Sept. 2, 1927, the Cardinals rescued Maranville from exile, acquiring him from the minor-league Rochester Tribe and inserting him at shortstop for the stretch run.

The move didn’t pay immediate dividends. Maranville was injured soon after he joined the Cardinals and was sidelined for three weeks. The defending champion Cardinals finished a close second to the 1927 pennant-winning Pirates. However, Maranville returned to the Cardinals in 1928 and helped them win their second NL championship.

Read the full article here: https://retrosimba.com/2017/08/31/rabbit-maranville-helped-cardinals-make-pennant-runs/



Originally published: August 31, 2017. Last Updated: August 31, 2017.