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Marty McManus played every infield position with gritty determination. A St. Louis Browns regular from 1921 to 1926, mostly at second base, he batted a high of .333 in 1924 and led the AL with 44 doubles in 1925. Known for his speed and hitting, McManus hit 90 or more RBIs for the Browns in three season, including a career high 109 in 1922. With the Tigers in 1930, his 23 stolen bases topped the league. McManus also developed into a solid third baseman during his years in Detroit. In 1930, he led American League third basemen in putouts (152), double plays (23), and fielding percentage (.966). He had 206 putouts at 3rd base in 1929 -- a total that has not been exceeded since that year by any Detroit third baseman.
He was player-manager in the last doleful days of the Red Sox before Tom Yawkey bought the team, then played for the Braves in 1934. He managed in the minors for many years following his retirement as a player.
This bat was manufactured by Hillerich & Bradsby. The bat has Martin J. McManus' name on the barrel in script, indicating that McManus had an endorsement contract with the company at the time of manufacture. The labeling on this bat is consistent with that most commonly seen during the 1922-1925 labeling period. This professional grade Hickory wood bat measures 34 inches in length, and weighs approximately 35 ounces. This bat has a hand turned knob associated with professional model bats of the period. This bat contains a variety of game use characteristics, including hit marks which have caused an area of slight grain swelling on the barrel and wear on the hitting surface. The bat has a very slight handle crack which is approximately 6.75 inches from the knob and is non-displaced, rendering it almost invisible. Additionally, six small vintage nails are present along the back of the barrel, possibly to add weight to the bat. These nails are not visible when the bat is displayed with the labeling in view. The bat has a rich dark patina, typical of the period. This is a great example of an early H & B bat used by Marty McManus, one of the prominent players of the era.View Lot Detail page