Background
Born in Chicago, the son of Irish immigrants (Martin J and Kate McManus), McManus began his MLB career in the final week of the 1920 season, playing in a single game for the Saint Louis Browns.
Born in Chicago, the son of Irish immigrants (Martin J and Kate McManus), McManus began his MLB career in the final week of the 1920 season, playing in a single game for the Saint Louis Browns.
He finished in the Top 20 in the American League Most Valuable Player voting twice with the Browns, finishing 15th in 1923 and 18th in 1926. His 1922 Browns team finished one game behind the pennant-winning Yankees, the closest McManus would ever come to the postseason.
He hit a triple in his first MLB game and became a regular player for the Browns from 1921 to 1926. Known for his speed and hitting, McManus had 109 RBIs in 1922, 280 total bases in 1923, and hit.333 in 1924, all career highs. McManus also led the American League in doubles in 1925 with 44.
McManus also pulled off the hidden ball trick in his last season with the Browns.
On June 30, 1926, with Ty Cobb coaching third base, McManus caught Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann with a hidden ball trick. On January 15, 1927, McManus was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a six-player deal.
McManus played five season for the Tigers from 1927 to 1931. His best season with Detroit was 1930, when he hit.320 with a.396 on-base percentage and a.475 slugging percentage.
He also led the American League in stolen bases in 1930 with 23.
In July 1929, hit two grand slams in three days for the Tigers. McManus also developed into a solid third baseman during his years in Detroit. In 1930, he led American League third basemen in putouts (152), double plays (23), and fielding percentage (966).
He had 206 putouts at 3rd base in 1929—a total that has not been exceeded since that year by any Detroit third baseman (including Marv Owen, Pinky Higgins, George Kell, Don Wert, Aurelio Rodríguez, Travis Fryman, or Brandon Inge).
On August 31, 1931, the Tigers traded McManus to the Boston Red Sox for Muddy Ruel. After the 1931 campaign, he played two more seasons with the Red Sox from 1932 to 1933.
On June 19, 1932, the Red Sox—mired in last place—named McManus as the manager after Shano Collins resigned. After a decade at the bottom of the American League, the Red Sox did not fare much better under McManus.
They finished in last place in 1932 and in 7th place in 1933.
McManus was released by the Red Sox at the end of the 1933 season and played the 1934 for the crosstown Boston Braves. McManus played only one year for the Braves, before being released on December 6, 1934. McManus married Mary Barton in 1934 in South Bend, Indiana.
During the years 1944 to 1948 Marty was manager of the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and did a short stint in 1947 with the Denver Bears of the Western League.
McManus died in Florissant, Missouri at age 65.