November 30th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a good time to be a Dodger fan … a GREAT time, in fact.
The year was 1974. It was the second season of the famed Dodgers infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey – affectionately called ‘The Infield’ – that would end up playing together for a record eight and a half seasons.
But there was another Dodger that you could pretty much count on seeing at nearly every Dodger game in addition to The Infield – extremely popular Dodgers right-hander Mike Marshall out of the Dodgers bullpen. In fact, it was during that 1974 season that the then 31-year-old Adrian, MI native became the first relief pitcher in MLB history to win a Cy Young Award.
(Photo credit – Herb Scharfman)
Rather than detail each of Marshall’s 15 MLB transactions over his 14 MLB seasons, here they are listed chronologically:
- September 13, 1960: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent.
- April 11, 1966: Purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the Philadelphia Phillies.
- October 15, 1968: Drafted by the Seattle Pilots from the Detroit Tigers as the 53rd pick in the 1968 expansion draft.
- November 21, 1969: Purchased by the Houston Astros from the Milwaukee Brewers.
- June 23, 1970: Traded by the Houston Astros to the Montreal Expos for Don Bosch.
- December 5, 1973: Traded by the Montreal Expos to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Willie Davis.
- June 23, 1976: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Atlanta Braves for Lee Lacy and Elias Sosa.
- April 30, 1977: Purchased by the Texas Rangers from the Atlanta Braves.
- November 9, 1977: Granted Free Agency.
- May 15, 1978: Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins.
- November 2, 1978: Granted Free Agency.
- January 6, 1979: Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins.
- June 6, 1980: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
- August 19, 1981: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets.
- October 12, 1981: Released by the New York Mets.
I don’t care who you are, anyone who can put together a 14-year MLB résumé like that is ok in my book … especially when it includes the Dodgers and a Cy Young Award.
But what makes Marshall’s 14-year career even more impressive is that in addition to winning the Cy Young Award in 1974, he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 1972, second in 1973, seventh in 1978 and fifth in 1979 … all as a reliever.
For those too young to remember Dr. ‘Iron Mike’ Marshall, he wasn’t really made of iron (at least not literally), but he really is a doctor. In 1978, two years removed as a Dodger and at 35 years of age, Marshall earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Michigan State University while a member of the Minnesota Twins.
But what even the savviest of Dodger (and baseball) fan might not know is that it was Marshall who encouraged a then 31-year-old Dodgers left-hander named Tommy John to undergo a new (and still very experimental) medical procedure to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in John’s left elbow. The rest, as they say, is history.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
As noted above, Marshall’s 14-year/15-team MLB career ended in 1981 with the New York Mets after compiling a career record of 97-112 with a very impressive career ERA of 3.14. However, and here again what only the savviest of baseball fans might know, is that Dr. Mike Marshall was MLB’s saves leader in 1979 (while with the Twins) with 32; is second in consecutive team-game appearances at 13 in 1974 (while with the Dodgers), which is tied with Texas Rangers right-hander Dale Mohorcic in 1986; and is 27th on the all-time career games-finished list with 549.
For good measure, he also did this:
- Most seasons leading major leagues in games finished (5)
- Most seasons leading major leagues in saves (3)
- Most National League games by any pitcher in a season (106)
- Most Major League games by any pitcher in a season (106)
- Most National League games in a season with no games started (106)
- Most Major League games in a season with no games started (106)
- Most National League innings pitched by a relief pitcher (208)
- Most Major League innings pitched by a relief pitcher (208)
- Most National League consecutive seasons leading leagues in games finished (3)
- Most Major League consecutive seasons leading leagues in games finished (3)
- Most American League games finished (84)
- Most National League games finished (83)
- Most Major League games finished (84)
- Most National League consecutive games pitched in a season (13)
- Most Major League consecutive games pitched in a season (13)
- Most consecutive major league seasons leading leagues in games finished (4)
- Most consecutive seasons leading major leagues in saves (2)
- Most National League consecutive games won by a relief pitcher (3)
- Most Major League consecutive games won by a relief pitcher (3)
- Most American League games by a pitcher in a season (90)
- Most American League games by a relief pitcher in a season (89)
- Most National League seasons leading the league in games finished (4)
As far as whatever happened to the soon-to-be (on January 15) 77-year-old former Dodger great, the best that I could come up with is that he is alive and well, and living in Zephyrhills, FL.
Thanks for the great memories, ‘Dr. Iron Mike!’
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
Great memories of the eccentric Marshall. Couple of years ago I read that he was still teaching his method of pitching mechanics.
Mike was an amazing pitcher, truly an iron man.
I remember that 1974 season like it was yesterday. I was a poor college student living on the G.I. Bill and part-time work and able to attend probably 40 Dodgers games with the guys (sometimes even including a date). What a team! Just like 2019 they should have won the World Series.
I was at the game where Tommy John was pitching and then just walked off the mound without explanation, we didn’t know then how bad it was. Also didn’t know that Marshall encouraged Tommy John to get the surgery.
Thinking about it, Dr. Marshall was probably a genius. I remember hearing about the science of “Kinesiology” for the first time because of Mike Marshall. Did he ever get into MLB coaching? Should have.
I think he was also ahead of his time regarding defensive positioning. I kind of remember him being known as a kind of a surly guy at the time. I think he irritated that young Dodger infield more than once by telling them where he wanted them positioned.
Glad to hear he is still alive and kicking.
With Iron Mike on the mound and Vin in the booth, we ALL learned about Kinesiology for the first time.
“Surly” is a kind word. Mike could actually be somewhat of a jerk at times. In fact, there’s this:
“In September 1982 — nearly a year after his final major-league game — Marshall was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and fourth-degree assault stemming from an incident that had occurred outside Marshall’s home in Minnetonka, Minnesota. A community dogcatcher alleged that Marshall had used her truck for target practice after she met with him at his house to discuss a black Labrador dog who she believed was his.
“The dog catcher, Mary Jo Strand, alleged that Marshall had gone into his garage after the discussion, retrieved a baseball and heaved it at her departing vehicle. The ball allegedly struck the top of Strand’s truck, landing about two feet from the driver’s window.
“Marshall denied threatening Strand or throwing the ball at her. He also denied that the dog was his. Instead, he asserted that he twice had asked Strand to leave his property and that if she did not do so, he would consider her to be trespassing and would not be responsible “if something happens to your truck”, he told the Associated Press.”
How can you not love a guy like this? lol!
It’s great to read that “Iron Mike” Marshall is going strong at 77.
My daughter came upon Mr. Cervenka’s piece after having a baseball enthusiast point out that her Grandfather winning a Cy Young Award was a very big deal in the world of baseball! Her Grandfather is Mike Marshall.
Mr. Cervenka got it right for the most part, all but for two words used to describe Iron Mike…’extremely popular’!! My father didn’t acknowledge the fans…he wouldn’t stop to sign autographs after a game. Boxout7 was correct when he stated my father irritated his teammates by telling them how to play their positions…he viewed baseball like a game of Chess, it was strategy not entertainment at the end of the game for him. My father was a players rep and instrumental in the realization of free agency which made him wildly unpopular with owners. I could go on and on but you get my drift.
But what I admire about true baseball fans is that they see past my fathers arrogance and eccentric ways and respect his talent, hard work and determination…and recognize his contribution to the game!
Thank you for dropping in on us, Rebekah. It’s always a treat to hear from family members of our beloved Dodgers.
I apologize for using the words ‘extremely popular,’ although I will admit that your father was extremely popular with me. I even had one of those old cheap plastic Dodger helmets and painted the number 28 on the back. I mean, who does that for a relief pitcher who never bats?
That being said, perhaps ‘extremely fierce’ would have been a better choice of words, as he was every bit that.
Thanks again for stopping by and please be safe.
Rebekah Marshall and Mr. Cervenka,
I was happy to find this conversation thread. I worked with Dr. Marshall directly to publish an article in the April 2009 edition of ‘Mechanical Engineering’ magazine titled ‘Coached by Newton’. The best ‘pitching coach’ Dr. Marshall ever had was from the late 17th century – Sir Isaac Newton! People with original thoughts and original ideas are rarely appreciated until many years later. I was just grateful for the opportunity to work with him and to bring his ideas and research to a different audience – engineers. I know he is not a fan of ‘pitch counts’ and the 5-man rotation, as these simply attempt to cover up for deficient and faulty pitching mechanics. Also, I sent a copy of the magazine to the general managers of a few major league baseball teams – never heard back. Oh well, Dr. Marshall has accomplished something very few people can lay claim to – he has advanced the knowledge and understanding of something of great consequence – the ability to throw a baseball, with minimal discomfort or pain, in such a manner that batters are humiliated. I can only hope he receives the credit and appreciation he deserves – like consideration for the Hall of Fame.
Thanks for dropping in on us and for your excellent comment/reply, Steven.
Back in the day, I was a HUGE Mike Marshall fan and loved when Mike entered games, if for no other reason than to listen to Vin tell us what Kinesiology was all about. I often wondered why no team picked Mike up as a pitching coach or trainer.
Don’t be a stranger. You are always welcome here on TBLA.
I was a huge Mike Marshall fan growing up. I loved reading this, which I found from a search that was prompted by Mike Marshall passing away yesterday.
Rest in Peace, Dr. Mike Marshall.
What many people don’t know is that this small man (5’8) started pro baseball as a shortstop — a good one. His cerebral, intellectual demeanor dominated everyone’s impressions, often camouflaging his fierce athletic work ethic. He could field his position as well as anybody (great pickoff move, too — just ask his former MSU student Herb Washington), and developed tremendous hand and core strength with his solitary iron ball workouts. The guy worked like a slave and never let skeptics affect his motivation.
Now that he has passed on, it would not surprise me if baseball feels free to appropriate all the ideas they scoffed at while he was alive. I doubt he would be surprised by that.