Sunday, April 4, 2021

#119 Marty Perez

Shortstop turned 2nd Baseman....Known as a good glove man....Developed with the Angels farm system but with nowhere to go with an entrenched Jim Fregosi holding a long standing firm grip at short ...was a regular the 1970 AAA Hawaiian Islander club to fell two games short of a 100 win season (hard to do for all minor league season are shorter than major league)....traded to Atlanta for 1971 for John Burns who never was close to being in the majors, in essence a giveaway....allowed incumbent Sonny Jackson and his questionable glove to try another position....Perez first two years resulted in an underwhelming .227 BA....the Braves were patient with him and his bat which started to gradually climb in the next three years.....meanwhile Perez successfully transitions to 2nd base ...Braves wanted to try other options in the infield trade Perez to Giants midseason 1976.....Traded to Yankees just prior to 1977 season resulting in comprehensive bench riding....one game and four at bats later is traded to the  talent depleted Oakland A’s gutted by free agency departures.... an assembled a patchwork crew....Perez succeeds the traded Phil Garner in his last full season....Small injuries hindered his return to the A’s..... In 1978 stumbles badly going 0-12 and getting a pink slip early  in the campaign....finished up 1978 as a Met farmhand in AAA.....as injuries increased, he retired and returned to his adoptive home of Atlanta....used his name as ball player to successfully sell insurance leading to the development of his own agency....still attend Braves alumni functions.    



 

No comments:

Post a Comment