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Fred “Firpo” Marberry was ahead of his time. Playing in an era where relievers had little perceived value, Marberry was the game’s preeminent bullpen man. The versatile Marberry thrived in a number of different roles.

Marberry broke into the big leagues in 1923, when pitchers were expected to finish what they started. Pitchers not effective enough to be in the starting rotation were banished to the bullpen. Marberry’s career stands out because he broke the mold.

His first season included 11 appearances, four as a starter, the rest in relief. Marberry went 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA (135 ERA+). Pitching for the Washington Senators during his first decade as a big leaguer, Marberry posted league-leading totals in appearances and saves 6 times each. More than a century after his debut, no reliever in the history of baseball has matched Marberry’s six seasons of topping his league in saves.

Along the way, he became the first to appear out of the bullpen 50 times in a season or 300 times in a career. Marberry also made career 186 starts that resulted in 86 complete games, 7 of which were shutouts. Effective as a starter, Marberry went 94-52 in that role, good for a .644 winning percentage.

The 6’1″, 190-pound right-hander finished in the top-6 in the league in ERA four times, and in the top-10 in wins five times. Marberry’s career WAR stands at 30.7, a figure that surpasses Cooperstown relievers Lee Smith, Trevor Hoffman, Rollie Fingers, and Bruce Sutter.

Shown here is Marberry’s signature from 1934.

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The image above shows the reverse of the government postcard autographed by Firpo Marberry. Notice the Corsicana, Texas postmark dated November 29, 1934.

Marberry was born in Streetman, Texas and made the Lone Star his home throughout his life. When he passed away in 1976 at age 77 it was in Mexia, Texas, less than a half hour from his birthplace. Corsicana where the postcard was mailed, is within 35 miles of both Texas towns.

Government postcards remain highly valued because of the rich context the postmark supplies.

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Walter Johnson is among the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. He complimented 417 wins with a 2.17 ERA.

The Big Train completed 531 games with an MLB record 110 shutouts. To boot, he was the founder of the 3,000-strikeout club and it’s only member for more than a half-century.

For 21 years Washington DC was Johnson’s home. He played for mostly middling clubs. The crowning moment in Johnson’s association in the capital city came in 1924 when he and the Senators their only World Series title.

Firpo Marberry was a big part of the Senators Fall Classic campaign. During the regular season the big right-hander led all American League hurlers in appearances and saves. His ERA+ was 32% better than league-average.

Johnson’s 277 2/3 innings far and away led the Washington staff. Though George Mogridge’s 212 frames and Tom Zachary’s 202 2/3 innings outpaced Marberry’s 195 1/3, it wasn’t by much.

In the World Series Marberry shined ever brighter. Pitching in a Series-leading four games, Marberry recorded two saves while striking out ten in eight innings. Among 1924 Fall Classic hurlers with at least three innings worked his 1.13 ERA was the lowest.

In the 12-inning Game 7 decider, Marberry and Johnson teamed to pitch the game’s final 7 innings. The Giants tallied a run only in Marberry’s first frame. Johnson was made the winner battery mate Muddy Ruel touched the plate with the winning run in the 12th.

Later Marberry pitched for all four years of Johnson’s tenure as manager of the Senators from 1929 through 1932.

Shown here is The Big Train’s 1935 handwritten letter to Hall of Fame executive Ford Frick thanking him for a lifetime pass.

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Some say the three-base hit is the most exciting play in baseball. As the batter rounds first, flies into second, and heads to third the anticipation builds to a crescendo.

While triples aren’t rare, they’re much less common than doubles and homers. Indeed, four men have hit at least 700 homers or 700 doubles while no player has hit even half that many triples. Only 8 men have hit as many as 200 three-base hits in their careers. Among them Tris Speaker who debuted in 1907 did it most recently.

On May 6, 1934, Firpo Marberry gave up an MLB-record four consecutive triples to Boston Red Sox batters. Carl Reyonlds, Moose Solters, Cooperstown’s Rick Ferrell, and Veterans Committee candidate Bucky Walters did the damage.

Marberry’s misfortune of surrendering back-to-back-to-back-to-back three-base hits never happened before or since.

Shown here is a Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card filled out and signed by a then-19 year old third base prospect Bucky Walters weeks before his professional debut.

Signed in early 1929, the card is filled out entirely in Walters’ hand and lists his position as “3B”. Though Walters’ signature is fairly common, examples from before the start of his pro career are exceedingly difficult to find.

Walters made a position change to pitcher and put himself in the Cooperstown conversation. The 1939 pitching Triple Crown winner and NL MVP had one hack of an 8-year run from 1937-1944: six all star appearances, three seasons of league-leading victory totals, 150 wins, 191 complete games, and 29 shutouts.

Click here to see more about Walters.

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From 1923-1936 Firpo Marberry played 14 big league seasons for three different teams. Of the six man who managed Marberry, four are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The pitcher got his start with the 1923 Senators with Donnie Bush at the helm. The following season at age 27, future Cooperstown skipper Bucky Harris helmed the franchise to its first World Series title . When Harris left after the 1928 campaign, Hall of Fame hurler Walter Johnson stepped in. Marberry remained with the Senators throughout Johnson’s four-year tenure as the manager.

Marberry moved to Detroit in 1933 where he again joined old friend Harris. Del Baker took over that same year when Harris was fired with two games remaining in the season.

The Tigers’ decision to hire Mickey Cochrane for ’34 paid immediate dividends. As catcher he earned his second MVP Award on his way to a Hall of Fame career. His managerial work pushed the Tigers to their franchise-first World Series championship.

When Cochrane and the Tigers released Marberry in 1935 the pitcher signed on with the New York Giants for ’36. Marberry made one appearance under manager and Cooperstown first-baseman Bill Terry before getting released.

Marberry returned Washington in a second stint for both the pitcher and manager Bucky Harris. After his 5th appearance of the season the Senators released him on June 11, 1936, ending Marberry’s time in the big leagues.

Shown here is a letter handwritten and signed by Bucky Harris, Marberry’s manager in 7 of his 14 seasons.

Dated 17 days before the opening of the 1925 World Series, the letter reads, “As the World Series approaches we need your help to have a winning team. Hope you have made arrangements to come at once. You will be a great help to the team. The players seem to have more courage and pep when you’re around. Please do not fail us. Sincerely, Stanley ‘Bucky’ Harris”.

Letters from this era handwritten by members of the Hall of Fame are rarely seen.