Was Pepper Martin sane?

[Dodgerfan1]

Pepper Martin has gone down in baseball history as a lovable eccentric who played the game with a passion and zeal rarely seen before or since. That's history's version, for the most part.

I have read several things about Martin throughout the years, however, which makes me wonder if dude was even sane. First off, he was uneducated and not very bright, either intellectually or rationally, and was somewhat mean-spirited by nature. Obviously, this has nothing to do with his sanity, but it does help to flesh out his character a bit. That he played with reckless abandon is well documented. That he was a bit nuts is pretty much implied. But some of the things I have read about him border on the bizarre.

He was almost as feared a base runner as was Ty Cobb. When he attempted to steal a base, he would let out a rebel yell and run as if the devil himself were chasing him. When he reached the base, he would slide with his spikes so high that not many infielders dared to come anywhere near him, lest they be cut to shreds. Martin obviously cared not a whit for the welfare of other players. In those days, it was more of a dog-eat-dog game. I do understand that, but Pepper Martin was more of a 'kick-the-crap-out-of-the-dog-then-eat-him' type of player. He was, well... nuts.

I have also read a couple of stories about how, when playing third base, Martin hated to field bunts. He would get so angry anytime a batter laid one down the line that he would frequently scoop the ball up and fire it directly at the batter's head as he ran to first base! He didn't care where the runner was nor who it was. Often, when he found out before a game that he was playing third base, he would stroll over to the opposing dugout and threaten to brain anyone who dared lay a bunt down on him. Once, Braves manager Casey Stengel decided he'd had enough of Martin's threats and ordered his players to bunt toward third base whenever possible. He figured that, unless Martin's aim was flawless, he would be so busy throwing at the runners that they would safely make it to first base.

Sure enough, every batter who laid down a bunt to Martin found themselves ducking and covering from Pepper's throws. I could find no record as to whether or not Pepper's pelts were accurate, but evidently Stengel figured that discretion was the better part of valor (and probably with a little begging by his players) and, fearing for their safety, told his players to lay off the bunts. I'm sure the players were relieved. Cards center fielder Terry Moore later commented that, had it not been for some acrobatic plays at first base by Johnny Mize, Pepper probably would have been charged with several errors that game.

When Martin played the outfield, he made Pete Reiser look like a wimp. He frequently crashed into walls, not to mention teammates, chasing down long flies. Cardinal players were always hesitant to chase after any fly ball that came anywhere near Martin, regardless of which position he was playing. They usually let Pepper take a shot at catching it, since he rarely backed off even when called off. It's a wonder he, or his teammates, wasn't seriously injured more often.

So, I put it to the court. Was Pepper Martin sane? Or was he certifiable? Funny how when a player is good, he's called 'colorful' and when he isn't so good, he's called a 'flake'. In that respect, you could call Martin colorful.

In my opinion, dude was crazy.

[Michael Green]

If I remember the story correctly, Martin was likelier to throw at bunters when he was injured and they were trying to take advantage of that. If he did that at other times, that would be another matter.

I also remember reading Leo Durocher's recollection that Pepper played without a particular piece of equipment ... a jockstrap. THAT would be insane.

It's hard to answer the question. I think of Dizzy Dean, who did and said crazy things but was, as his old broadcasting partner Bud Blattner said, "dumb like a fox." Some do things to build reputations. Some do things because they are legitimately at least half a bubble off.

[Dodgerfan1]

If I remember the story correctly, Martin was likelier to throw at bunters when he was injured and they were trying to take advantage of that. If he did that at other times, that would be another matter.

Nothing I have read specified that he only threw at the runners if they bunted while he was injured. That doesn't mean it's not true, but I would have thought if that were the case then it would have been stated. Even if true, it's still a pretty crazy thing to do. In my opinion, there has to be something just a little bit wrong in the head with someone who couldn't care less about seriously injuring someone else. Throwing a baseball at another person's head and trying to crack his skull was never my idea of sanity. I imagine that he was thrown at in retaliation quite a bit when he came to the plate. Knowing that would happen and still throwing at runners doesn't exactly make one want to give his mental capacity the benefit of the doubt, either.

There have been several players throughout baseball's history who haven't been 'all there'. The most obvious examples are perhaps Rube Waddell and Jimmy Piersall. I have always believed that Germany Schaefer was touched, too. I'm not talking nervous breakdowns, ala Tony Horton or Milt Wilcox, I'm talking about the likes of a Hughie Jennings. Jennings was beaned by so many pitches during his career that many observers believe it affected his mind. He did have a nervous breakdown in 1925 that effectively ended his career in baseball. People thought he was literally nuts the way he would spin around and screech 'EEYAH!' at the top of his lungs while coaching third base after his playing days were over. The jury may still be out on him.

I'm not trying to make light of mental illness by any means, please don't misunderstand. Still, it is interesting to note how many players who had what we now believe to be mental problems were great ballplayers. Before he was driven out of baseball, Piersall was a very good player while relatively healthy. Waddell, Jennings and Pepper Martin were all well above average, Waddell and Jennings being HOFers.

[OleMissCub]

I'm talking about the likes of a Hughie Jennings. Jennings was beaned by so many pitches during his career that many observers believe it affected his mind. He did have a nervous breakdown in 1925 that effectively ended his career in baseball. People thought he was literally nuts the way he would spin around and screech 'EEYAH!' at the top of his lungs while coaching third base after his playing days were over. The jury may still be out on him.

I don't have the quotes in front of me, but I'm pretty sure in Cobb's autobiography he stated his belief that Jennings' mind wasn't all there.

[Los Bravos]

^ That looks like every image of Jennigs I've ever seen, i.e. in mid-conniption.

I also remember reading Leo Durocher's recollection that Pepper played without a particular piece of equipment ... a jockstrap. THAT would be insane.

Mark Belanger did the same thing. Some guys just like to have the boys roamin' free.

To answer the question, I've always though most of the Gas House Gang were borderline sociopaths, so I don't see this as being far off.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Nothing I have read specified that he only threw at the runners if they bunted while he was injured. That doesn't mean it's not true, but I would have thought if that were the case then it would have been stated. Even if true, it's still a pretty crazy thing to do. In my opinion, there has to be something just a little bit wrong in the head with someone who couldn't care less about seriously injuring someone else. Throwing a baseball at another person's head and trying to crack his skull was never my idea of sanity. I imagine that he was thrown at in retaliation quite a bit when he came to the plate. Knowing that would happen and still throwing at runners doesn't exactly make one want to give his mental capacity the benefit of the doubt, either.

I'm in agreement, that may be a story with no substance. Lets think it over, how many time could he throw at the runners head and get away with it, it would be so obvious, and they would allow it, the umps.

I know the game had less retraints back then, it was a tougher game, but throwing at the runners head, how may times could it be done and nothing said.

[Iron Jaw]

^ That looks like every image of Jennigs I've ever seen, i.e. in mid-conniption.

Mark Belanger did the same thing. Some guys just like to have the boys roamin' free.

To answer the question, I've always though most of the Gas House Gang were borderline sociopaths, so I don't see this as being far off.

I wonder why that would be public information?

Anyway, the jockstrap.....and a cup might not be a bad idea for an infielder. I played catcher without a cup in high school............crazy, but I didn't know any better. I was pretty lucky I guess.

[Los Bravos]

I wonder why that would be public information?

Don Baylor mentioned it in his book

[Iron Jaw]

Don Baylor mentioned it in his book

I guess I missed Don's book. However, it would surprise me that Baylor would mention something like that. Jim Bouton would in a heartbeat - but Bouton is Bouton.

[hellborn]

Rube Waddell didn't wear underwear at all, much less a jock and cup.

Hughie Jennings may have been odd, but I wouldn't get the idea that he was some kind of half-wit fruitcake...he was a practicing lawyer, during and after his baseball career. I wouldn't be surprised if the injuries he suffered in a horrible car accident might have affected him more than beanings, though.

I think that Pepper was probably an uncouth jerk, but hardly insane...I've played with plenty of guys in baseball and softball who didn't care in the slightest about the welfare of others, not lunatics but just jerks. I had one teammate in TX force me into a collision at home by lofting a throw on a guy we had by a mile instead of throwing normally...we had two 220lb guys hit head on instead of an easy tag play. He did this because we hit it off wrong from the start and he didn't like me, I was a Yankee, and I had messed up a play a few minutes before. Neither I nor the runner was hurt, although there was an audible crunch when we hit and the ump cried out something like "Holy Crap!" when we hit. The jerk stood there at SS and laughed after the play (I held on for the out), and I decided to get him later rather than make a scene on the field. The guy running the team must have asked him to not play anymore, because I never saw him again. As a P, the same guy would also take the game ball he was going to pitch to the opposing team and slam it into the concrete repeatedly before the game, and insult and swear at the other team if they complained. Honestly, he was probably pretty typical for the kind of middle aged guy who has a rotten job and just has sports to give his life some meaning.

[Death to Crawling Things]

^ That looks like every image of Jennigs I've ever seen, i.e. in mid-conniption.

Mark Belanger did the same thing. Some guys just like to have the boys roamin' free.

To answer the question, I've always though most of the Gas House Gang were borderline sociopaths, so I don't see this as being far off.

I didnt wear any protection down there either when I was a kid. Now, that I am older and wiser I think "" about myself.

[Death to Crawling Things]

I dont know about Pepper Martin being insane. I will say his OF play could suggest that he figured if his teammates were smart they'd just stay out of his way. The 3B stuff and the spikes high slides I dont know.

Anyhow, as a 3B didnt he also liked to take hard hit grounders off his chest.

Course, he might have done some of the things he did to make opponents think he was crazy for purposes of psychological advantage. Wouldnt necessarily bet on it though.