Ziggy Marcell

Everett Ziggy Marcell
(Sam)
last name also spelled Marcel or Marcelle

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185 lb.
• School Southern University
• Debut 1939
• Final Game 1948
• Born September 1, 1916 in New Orleans, LA USA
• Died October 10, 1990 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The son of Oliver Marcelle, strong-armed catcher Ziggy Marcell first tried to break into the Negro Leagues with the Baltimore Elite Giants, but they already had a fine catching prospect in Roy Campanella to back up player-manager Biz Mackey. After bouncing around with a few teams in 1939, Marcel got a chance in 1940 with the Homestead Grays when Josh Gibson went to the Mexican League, but Marcell was not the hitter or runner his father had been and was unable to win the job. He went to the New York Black Yankees as a backup backstop in 1941 and hit just .158 after a .273 mark in 1940. He was on the bench of yet another team in 1942, the Chicago American Giants.

Not playing from 1943 through 1946, Ziggy returned to the Elite Giants in 1947 and then was with the Newark Eagles in 1948. At the age of 33, Ziggy got a chance in Organized Baseball when the career backup signed with the Farnham Pirates of the Provincial League. He put in a respectable .272/~.361/.384 line that year and was among the better fielders behind the plate.

Sources: The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley, 1951 Baseball Guide

Related Sites

• BR Minors page