On November 10, 1918, Rabbit told his shipmates that they would get big news the next day. "Everyone kept asking me what the big news was going to be," he remembered. "I said, 'Wait until tomorrow; I will tell you then.' At 6:30 the next morning we got word that the armistice had been signed. That afternoon I was called in to the captain's quarters. The captain said to me, 'How is it you knew the armistice was going to be signed today? Who gave you that information?' I said, 'I didn't know anything about the armistice being signed. The reason I said the big day is tomorrow and they would hear great news is that today is my birthday.'"
Showing posts with label Rabbit Maranville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rabbit Maranville. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2019
The Sunday Funnies
As was true of many major leaguers during World War I, Rabbit Maranville left baseball during the 1918 season to join the military -- in his case, the Navy, where he served as a gunner on the USS Pennsylvania.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
The Sunday Funnies
Rabbit Maranville, the Hall of Fame shortstop, got to Cooperstown on the strength of his glovework, which was legendary.
But he was a poor hitter, both at the plate and in the brawls he doted on causing -- but pretty good at hitting the sauce.
One day Maranville -- who stood just 5-feet-5 -- came out of the team hotel and picked a fight with a cabbie. He lost the fight. Undeterred, he picked another cabbie, who also licked him. Then a third. Then a fourth. After a fifth fight, a team employee dragged Maranville away.
"What are you doing?" he demanded of Maranville.
"I'm trying to find one I can lick," Maranville said.
But he was a poor hitter, both at the plate and in the brawls he doted on causing -- but pretty good at hitting the sauce.
One day Maranville -- who stood just 5-feet-5 -- came out of the team hotel and picked a fight with a cabbie. He lost the fight. Undeterred, he picked another cabbie, who also licked him. Then a third. Then a fourth. After a fifth fight, a team employee dragged Maranville away.
"What are you doing?" he demanded of Maranville.
"I'm trying to find one I can lick," Maranville said.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
The Sunday Funnies
For the third straight offseason, the Sunday funnies: baseball stories, maybe true, perhaps not, intended to draw a laugh or at least a smile.
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Rabbit Maranville is in the Hall of Fame, but certainly not for his prowess as hitter. The Rabbit was a weak batsman, and a superb defensive shortstop. He was also a notable clown, and a drinker of some repute.
He had a short run as player-manager of the Chicago Cubs about halfway through his career, 53 games. He was named manager in the middle of the season over his protests — he didn't want the job, and, given his habitual irresponsibility, it wasn't a real bright idea to force it on him.
On one of the team's long train trips, Maranville took a tour of the Pullman cars with a bucket of water, splashing sleeping travelers while bellowing: "There will be no sleeping under Maranville management!"
He was soon relieved of his managerial duties.
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Rabbit Maranville is in the Hall of Fame, but certainly not for his prowess as hitter. The Rabbit was a weak batsman, and a superb defensive shortstop. He was also a notable clown, and a drinker of some repute.
He had a short run as player-manager of the Chicago Cubs about halfway through his career, 53 games. He was named manager in the middle of the season over his protests — he didn't want the job, and, given his habitual irresponsibility, it wasn't a real bright idea to force it on him.
On one of the team's long train trips, Maranville took a tour of the Pullman cars with a bucket of water, splashing sleeping travelers while bellowing: "There will be no sleeping under Maranville management!"
He was soon relieved of his managerial duties.
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