Pepper was born in Temple, Oklahoma on February 29, 1904. When he was six years old his parents relocated to Oklahoma City, where he grew up and subsequently became known as Pepper Martin.[1]
Alyne Mary Martin, born May 6, 1929, in Houston, Harris, Texas.[4]
Virginia Lee Martin. (still living)
Alice J. Martin. (still living)
Baseball Career
Pepper was "a chunky, unshaven hobo who ran the bases like a berserk locomotive, slept in the raw, and swore at pitchers in his sleep." (as described by Lee Allen, American Sportswriter.)[5]
In his early teens, Pepper played ball for a local church team in Oklahoma City. He also played on company teams like the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. Initially, Pepper was a pitcher when he was first signed with the Cardinals farm team, The Greenville Hunters.[1]
Pepper played both third base and outfielder. He was part of the Saint Louis Cardinals Gas House Gang in 1934. Pepper stood out in several areas of the sport, however he really got his chance with the St. Louis Cardinals because of his running and hitting abilities. His glove was "sub-standard".[6]
In 1931, the Saint Louis Cardinals won the World Series. Pepper Martin gained his fame in baseball during this series. Leading the team to victory, Pepper had 12 hits at bat with four doubles, a home run, scored five runs and five RBIs, and stoled 5 bases. It was a one-man show according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.[7]
Because of his "daring and aggressive base running abilities", Pepper earned the name of the Wild Horse of the Osage."[8]
Pepper Martin - 1955.
Pepper played 13 years in the Majors for the St. Louis Cardinals. 1928 - 1940 excluding 1929, 1941-43. Pepper played from the age of 24, when he entered the Majors, to the age of 40 when he played his last season in 1944.[9]
After Pepper's career with the St. Louis Cardinals, he became a successful minor league baseball manager.[8]
Pepper Martin comes in at number 25 in The Oklahoman's 50 greatest baseball players from Oklahoma.[5]
During the off-season, Pepper indulged in hunting and fishing, playing in local basketball and football events. According to Wikipedia, Pepper was the vice-president and general manager of the Oklahoma Ice Hockey team.[8]
After retiring from a very successful career in baseball, Pepper was the athletic director at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.[8]
Death and Burial
At the age of 61, Pepper passed away from a heart attack on March 5, 1965, in McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. He is buried at the Quinton Cemetery in Beaver Township, Haskell County, Oklahoma.[10][8][7]
↑ Ancestry.com. Year: 1940; Census Place: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma; Roll: m-t0627-03345; Page: 64B; Enumeration District: 78-85. Ancestry Sharing Link
↑ "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH8Y-DWL : 4 April 2020), John Leonard Martin in entry for Mary Alyre Martin, 06 May 1929; citing Houston, Harris, Texas, United States, certificate 40343, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,240,911.
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I am 18 Degrees from Pepper. We are 18th cousins 4 times removed. The common thread being John Grey KG (1300-1359). When I was a child in the Late 50's-Early 60's, my grandmother and I would sit up listening to the St. Louis Cardinals play on AM radio from Loris, South Carolina. What fond memories!
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