Marv Rackley
Encyclopedia
Marvin Eugene Rackley is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
. He played from 1947-1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, and Cincinnati Reds
. He appeared in the 1949 World Series
as a member of the Dodgers.
. He signed with the Dodgers in 1941, at the age of 19. In his first professional season, he hit .322 in the Georgia-Florida League
. After the 1942 season, Rackley enlisted in the Army Air Force
. He spent three years in the service and also played some semi-pro baseball.
In 1946, Rackley was discharged and returned to organized baseball. The Dodgers sent him to the Montreal Royals
of the International League
, where he was teammates with Jackie Robinson
in Robinson's first minor league season. While Robinson was the star of the team, Rackley also played well, batting .305 and leading the league in triples
(14) and stolen base
s (64). Montreal won the pennant and the Junior World Series
. After the season, Robinson hired Rackley to play on the Jackie Robinson All-Stars exhibition team.
Rackley joined the Dodgers in 1947. In 18 games, he batted .222. He finished the season in the American Association
. Rackley then rejoined Brooklyn in 1948 and had his best major league campaign, hitting .327 in 88 games. In 1949, he was traded to Pittsburgh; however, the trade was voided and Rackley went back to the Dodgers. He was purchased by Cincinnati in October, for $60,000. He played five games for them in 1950 before going to the Pacific Coast League
's Seattle Rainiers
. Over the next several years, Rackley also played in the Southern Association
and the International League. He retired in 1955.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He played from 1947-1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He appeared in the 1949 World Series
1949 World Series
The 1949 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games for their second defeat of the Dodgers in three years, and the twelfth championship in team history...
as a member of the Dodgers.
Career
Rackley was born in Seneca, South CarolinaSeneca, South Carolina
Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Seneca Micropolitan Statistical Area Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is...
. He signed with the Dodgers in 1941, at the age of 19. In his first professional season, he hit .322 in the Georgia-Florida League
Georgia-Florida League
The Georgia-Florida League was a minor baseball league that existed from 1935 through 1958 and in 1962–1963...
. After the 1942 season, Rackley enlisted in the Army Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. He spent three years in the service and also played some semi-pro baseball.
In 1946, Rackley was discharged and returned to organized baseball. The Dodgers sent him to the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, where he was teammates with Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
in Robinson's first minor league season. While Robinson was the star of the team, Rackley also played well, batting .305 and leading the league in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(14) and stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (64). Montreal won the pennant and the Junior World Series
Junior World Series
The Junior World Series was the name given to a postseason series between champions of two of the three high-minor baseball leagues, modeled on the World Series of Major League Baseball...
. After the season, Robinson hired Rackley to play on the Jackie Robinson All-Stars exhibition team.
Rackley joined the Dodgers in 1947. In 18 games, he batted .222. He finished the season in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. Rackley then rejoined Brooklyn in 1948 and had his best major league campaign, hitting .327 in 88 games. In 1949, he was traded to Pittsburgh; however, the trade was voided and Rackley went back to the Dodgers. He was purchased by Cincinnati in October, for $60,000. He played five games for them in 1950 before going to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
. Over the next several years, Rackley also played in the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
and the International League. He retired in 1955.