Marty Purtell

Lawrence Mark Purtell

• Bats Left, Throws unknown
• Height 5' 8", Weight 148 lbs

• Born July 23, 1889 in Columbus, OH USA
• Died November 1970

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Mark "Marty" Purtell, brother of Billy Purtell and son of Patrick Purtell, managed in the minors for 18 seasons. He was a minor league infielder from 1908 to 1939, seemingly missing the 1937 season. He was never a strong hitter, batting near the Mendoza Line multiple times and never hitting more than 6 home runs in a season. His statistical record is incomplete, however it is known that he had at least 1,541 hits, of which at least 190 were doubles, 40 were triples and 12 were home runs.

In what was his second professional season, with the Decatur Commodores of the Three-I League in 1909, he played an important role in a memorable game. In the first game of a Memorial Day doubleheader on May 30th, he drove in the winning run in a 2-1 win against the Bloomington Bloomers in the 26th inning, in what was the longest professional game up to that point. It would not be exceeded until 1960. In that game, both pitchers, Ed Clarke for Bloomington and Otto Burns for Decatur, went the distances. Marty batted a mere .135 that season, but that was one well-timed hit. Anectodically, the second scheduled game that day was cancelled due to darkness.

He also scouted for the New York Giants ( -1947), Boston Braves (1948-1949), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1952-1955).

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1923	Hutchinson Wheat Shockers	Southwestern League	84-50	1st		Lost League Finals
1924	Hutchinson Wheat Shockers	Western Association	81-80	4th		none
1925	Springfield Midgets	Western Association	67-82	5th
1926	Springfield Midgets	Western Association	92-66	1st		League Champs
1927	St. Joseph Saints/Joplin Miners	Western Association	73-60	3rd		none
1928	Joplin Miners	Western Association	70-65	3rd		League Champs
1929	Independence Producers	Western Association	71-78	4th
1930	Independence Producers	Western Association	76-56	1st		League Champs
1931	Independence Producers	Western Association	77-69	3rd		none
1932	Independence Producers/Joplin Miners/Hutchinson Miners	Western Association	58-68	3rd	none
1933	Hutchinson Wheat Shockers/Bartlesville Bronchos	Western League	51-70	7th	Detroit Tigers
1934	Bartlesville Reds	Western Association	63-69	5th	Cincinnati Reds
1935	Bartlesville Reds	Western Association	56-79	5th	Cincinnati Reds
1936	Fremont Reds	Ohio State League	42-56	4th	Cincinnati Reds	none
1937	Mobile Shippers	Southeastern League	77-59	3rd	St. Louis Cardinals	League Champs
1938	Mobile Shippers	Southeastern League	75-73	4th	St. Louis Cardinals	League Champs
1939	Mobile Shippers	Southeastern League	56-78	7th	St. Louis Cardinals
1956	Paris Lakers	Midwest League	73-52	1st	Chicago Cubs	League Champs

Further Reading

• William Dowell: "The Marathon Game: Endless Baseball, its Prelude, and its Aftermath in the 1909 Three-I League", in The Baseball Research Journal, SABR, Volume 40, Number 1 (Spring 2011), pp. 94-102.