1972-1973
MARTY PATTIN   P

Marty Pattin was born April 6, 1943 in Charleston, Illinois. When it came time to choose a college, Marty turned down baseball power Arizona State and elected to stayed home, attending Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. He was a star on the baseball team, once striking out 22 batters in a game, and led the Panther’s to the 1964 NAIA World Series. His 278 career strikeouts are still a team record and his #19 was retired by the school. In 1972, he was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Many scouts said Pattin was too small, but scouts should have learned by now that you can’t measure heart. The California Angels selected Marty in the seventh round of the 1965 amateur draft. Pattin made quick work of the Angels minor league system with stops in El Paso, Quad Cities and AAA Seattle before making his major league debut on May 14 1968 for the Angels.

He appeared in 52 games for the ’68 Angels, getting four starts and finishing with a solid 2.79 ERA over 84 innings of work. Despite that, the team left him unprotected in the 1968 expansion draft and the Seattle Pilots selected him with the 18th pick.

The 1969 Seattle Pilots were a bit of a mess. They played in an antiquated ballpark and there were many times where management didn’t seem to know what they were doing. After one disastrous season, the Pilots, and Pattin, moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers. Marty pitched for the Brew Crew for two seasons before being shipped to Boston in a massive ten player trade in October of 1971.

In a major trade, Milwaukee sent Pattin and outfielder Tommy Harper, along with Lew Krausse and minor-leaguer Patrick Skrable, to the Boston Red Sox for a boatload of talent: Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, George Scott, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud, and Don Pavletich.

He joined a team that had a winning record. Boston’s record in 1971 was 85-77 and they finished third in their division, far behind the pennant-winning Orioles.

In 1972, the Red Sox were serious playoff contenders. Boston was in first place for more than 20 days and entered October with a narrow lead over the Tigers, whom they happened to play the final three games of the season. Boston lost to the Orioles on October 1st and then the next two games against Detroit, and the latter clinched the divisional crown in the process.

Still, Pattin helped considerably with a record of 17-13, four shutouts, and an ERA of 3.24. The 17 wins proved to be his career best. Along the way, he almost made history: On July 11, 1972, he took a no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics into the ninth inning. After he retired the first batter, Reggie Jackson singled. He completed a 4-0 one-hitter.

In 1972, he hit the only two home runs of his major-league career. They were hit three months apart, both at Fenway Park against Milwaukee, both off former Brewers teammate Bill Parsons, and both were hit with a runner on base after two outs in the bottom of the second inning.

In 1973 the Red Sox improved their winning percentage again but finished eight games behind the Orioles in the division. Marty split 30 decisions and had an ERA a run higher than in 1972, though his 11 complete games matched the second highest total of his career. After the season, the Red Sox traded him to the Kansas City Royals for Dick Drago. Pattin spent the rest of his major-league career, seven seasons, as a Royal. 

Pattin got off to a rough start in Kansas City, only going 3 and 7 with a 3.99 ERA in 1974. He steadied himself from 1975 to 1980, averaging 36 appearances per season and 118 innings pitched. He helped the Royals to three Western Division championships and played in the 1980 World Series. He ended his seven-year Royal career with a 43-39 record.

Pattin could be a prankster and was well liked by his teammates. When he retired at the conclusion of the 1980 season, Marty was the last of the Seattle Pilots.

In retirement, Phe coached the University of Kansas baseball team from 1982 to 1987 and was a fixture not only around town, but at his grandson’s baseball games. he was revered as one of Lawrence’s treasures. He was friendly and approachable and always ready to share stories of his time in the big leagues.

Tragically, Marty Pattin died in his sleep on October 3, 2018 at the age of 75.