Jim Marshall, Oldest Living Former Met, Passes Away

Jim Marshall, who was the oldest living ex-Met, died on Monday night at the age of 94.

His passing was confirmed by Jay Holwitz, the vice president of alumni relations for the team.

Originally from Danville, Illinois, Marshall was traded to the Mets from the Pirates along with pitcher Vinegar Bend Misel in May. This followed his five years in Major League Baseball, which included 17 games as an outfielder in 1962.

Reflecting on his time with the Mets, Marshall shared earlier this year, “They loved the losers… It was a special place, a special time. It was different from the rest of the places I’d been. They treated us so well. Everyone was really enthusiastic. I never forgot all of that.”

Marshall, who started his career with the Giants, boasted a .344 batting average in 1962, hitting three home runs, driving in four runs, and scoring six times.

Over his career, he maintained a .242 average with a .709 OPS across 410 games, accumulating 29 home runs and 106 RBIs while playing for teams like the Orioles and Cubs.

He had initially signed with the White Sox out of Compton (Calif.) College, but didn’t get to play due to trades that sent future Hall of Famers like Larry Doby to other teams.

Marshall also became one of the first American-born players in Major League Baseball to play in Japan, suiting up for the Chibu Lions from 1963 to 1965.

After his playing days, he returned to the U.S. and coached in the minor leagues from 1968 to 1972.

In 1973, he joined the Cubs as the third base coach and later took over managerial duties in 1974, succeeding Whitey Megill.

Marshall had a coaching record of 229 wins and 326 losses with the Cubs, remaining with them for three seasons.

He wrapped up his baseball career in 2021 at 90 years old, marking 70 years since his first game. He had taken on various roles, including minor league manager, coach, scout, and advisor as he neared the end of his time in the big leagues.

The 1962 Mets, a team known for holding a modern record of 120 losses in a season, now have only six surviving members, although the White Sox set a new record in 2024 with 121 losses.

The surviving members are Craig Anderson (87), Rick Hershiser (88), Jay Hook (88), Gallen Cisco (89), Cliff Cook (89), and John Cons (89). The title of oldest living former Met now goes to George Altman, who played 124 games for the team in 1964 and is currently 92 years old.