Marv Blaylock

Marvin Edward Blaylock (September 30, 1929 – October 23, 1993) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 287 Major League games between 1950 and 1957 for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Giants. A first baseman and outfielder, he was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, threw and batted left-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).

Originally signed by the Giants in 1947, he appeared in only one Major League game for them, as a pinch hitter on September 26, 1950. Batting for pitcher Larry Jansen, Blaylock popped out to third baseman Billy Cox off Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He then returned to the minor leagues for four full seasons, batting over .300 for the 1954 Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League, the top farm club of the Phillies, which earned him a second Major League trial.

He was the Phillies' most-used first baseman in both 1955 and 1956. In 1955, he appeared in 113 games, starting 55 of them (with Earl Torgeson, Eddie Waitkus and Stan Lopata each starting more than 25 games at first for the team). Blaylock batted only .208 with three home runs that season. However, in 1956, he started 110 games at first, improved his batting average to .254, and hit ten home runs, fourth on the team.

But it was not enough production, and Blaylock lost his starting job to rookie Ed Bouchee in 1957. He was sent down to the Triple-A Miami Marlins for 41 games before his recall in September 1957. In his final Major League at bat, Blaylock hit a pinch hit home run off René Valdés of the Dodgers in an 8–4 loss at Connie Mack Stadium. As a Major Leaguer, he had 175 total hits, including 21 doubles, 15 triples and 15 homers.

Blaylock was out of baseball in 1958 but returned for a final pro season in 1959 at the Double-A level with the Nashville Vols of the Southern Association.