Rabbit

Ytown Tribe fan · 08-01-2002, 09:45 AM

The more I read about him, the more I like this guy.

Rabbit Maranville likely couldn't exist in baseball today, since no manager would put up with him. Maybe the same could be said of Rube Waddell, Jimmy Foxx or even Babe Ruth. These guys wrote their own rules, lived hard and fast, drank WAY too much, and had more fun than is humanly possible or permissible these days in professional sports.

No one had more fun than Rabbit. Not even the Babe. Anyone who enjoyed baseball in the '20s and early '30s would have just as many "Rabbit stories" as "Ruth stories", perhaps more.

It appears that he was the greatest defensive middle infielder before Maz or Ozzie came along. At the time, no one was calculating defensive Win Shares for shortstops or secondbasemen based on "expected double plays", GO/FO ratios for team pitchers, or anything else other than putouts, assists, DPs and errors. But Rabbit was a great shortstop according to most who saw him play and great at second later in his career.

The guys who gave him MVP votes must have seen something and the guys who voted him into the Hall must have seen the same thing. He was unique.

sweaver · 08-01-2002, 10:46 AM

Maranville could go in that discussion with Aparicio, Ozzie, et.al., but none of us except maybe Wiz have ever seen him. I wonder if there are newsreels of him.....

He must have been terrific defensively, to play regularly into his forties, with his poor stick. When my book arrives, I'll look up his win shares.

poorme · 08-01-2002, 10:54 AM

Funny how we find old-time boozers to be interesting characters, but view present day boozers (or druggies) with contempt.

KCBOOMER · 08-01-2002, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by poorme
Funny how we find old-time boozers to be interesting characters, but view present day boozers (or druggies) with contempt.

Just shows that the oldtimers could hold there liquor better.

sweaver · 08-01-2002, 01:22 PM

Who knew a rabbit was a party animal?

Fuzzy Bear · 08-01-2002, 08:18 PM

Rabbit Maranville is in the HOF for his glove, and his glove alone, moreso than any other player.

I am not sure if he is a deserving HOFer, but there are some misconceptions about his career.

He was able to play a long time, and play regularly on teams that contended. The 1933 Braves were 9 games out, while Maranville hit .218. This, to me is a testament to his defensive skills. In the mid-twenties he was sent to the minors, and replaced by players that hit better, but the team declined.

Rabbit has a range factor for his career of 5.76. That's impressive.

Rabbit was not elected to the HOF on a sympathy vote. There was a campaign on his behalf, but support for him had been growing.

But, yes, today we'd call him a jerk, and banish him to the minors.
That's too bad.

08-02-2002, 10:09 AM

James' win shares system seems to indicate that Rabbit could give the Wizard a run for his money as the best all-time with the glove. It almost certainly puts Maranville ahead of Aparicio as a fielder, which is pretty impressive in itself.

Maranville also finished in the top ten in MVP voting seven times or so. Pretty impressive for someone who couldn't hit a lick.

Skip · 08-05-2002, 02:13 AM

Rabbit was the first old time player I got attached to (besides the obvious ones) and is still one of my favorite players. Any time he's mentioned I smile.

08-01-2002, 09:45 AM	#1
Ytown Tribe fan Guest Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Scrappers territory Posts: 2,515	Rabbit The more I read about him, the more I like this guy. Rabbit Maranville likely couldn't exist in baseball today, since no manager would put up with him. Maybe the same could be said of Rube Waddell, Jimmy Foxx or even Babe Ruth. These guys wrote their own rules, lived hard and fast, drank WAY too much, and had more fun than is humanly possible or permissible these days in professional sports. No one had more fun than Rabbit. Not even the Babe. Anyone who enjoyed baseball in the '20s and early '30s would have just as many "Rabbit stories" as "Ruth stories", perhaps more. It appears that he was the greatest defensive middle infielder before Maz or Ozzie came along. At the time, no one was calculating defensive Win Shares for shortstops or secondbasemen based on "expected double plays", GO/FO ratios for team pitchers, or anything else other than putouts, assists, DPs and errors. But Rabbit was a great shortstop according to most who saw him play and great at second later in his career. The guys who gave him MVP votes must have seen something and the guys who voted him into the Hall must have seen the same thing. He was unique.

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08-01-2002, 10:46 AM	#2
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Maranville could go in that discussion with Aparicio, Ozzie, et.al., but none of us except maybe Wiz have ever seen him. I wonder if there are newsreels of him..... He must have been terrific defensively, to play regularly into his forties, with his poor stick. When my book arrives, I'll look up his win shares.

08-01-2002, 10:54 AM	#3
poorme Guest Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: washington dc Posts: 2,625	Funny how we find old-time boozers to be interesting characters, but view present day boozers (or druggies) with contempt.

08-01-2002, 01:22 PM	#5
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Who knew a rabbit was a party animal?

08-01-2002, 08:18 PM	#6
Fuzzy Bear NetShrine's Evangelist Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Living by faith, and not by sight! Posts: 2,194	Rabbit Maranville is in the HOF for his glove, and his glove alone, moreso than any other player. I am not sure if he is a deserving HOFer, but there are some misconceptions about his career. He was able to play a long time, and play regularly on teams that contended. The 1933 Braves were 9 games out, while Maranville hit .218. This, to me is a testament to his defensive skills. In the mid-twenties he was sent to the minors, and replaced by players that hit better, but the team declined. Rabbit has a range factor for his career of 5.76. That's impressive. Rabbit was not elected to the HOF on a sympathy vote. There was a campaign on his behalf, but support for him had been growing. But, yes, today we'd call him a jerk, and banish him to the minors. That's too bad.

08-02-2002, 10:09 AM	#7
BigKlu Posts: n/a	James' win shares system seems to indicate that Rabbit could give the Wizard a run for his money as the best all-time with the glove. It almost certainly puts Maranville ahead of Aparicio as a fielder, which is pretty impressive in itself. Maranville also finished in the top ten in MVP voting seven times or so. Pretty impressive for someone who couldn't hit a lick.

08-05-2002, 02:13 AM	#8
Skip NetShrine Vagabond Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Louisville Posts: 7,866	Rabbit was the first old time player I got attached to (besides the obvious ones) and is still one of my favorite players. Any time he's mentioned I smile.

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