After three all-star seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons, oft-traveled first baseman Jim Marshall hungered to return to America and accepted a spring invitation by the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.
"I wasn't able to live in the same town as my family," he explained. "I had to leave them in Tokyo. ... There were few English-speaking people in Nagoya and it gets very lonely ... so I asked to be traded. But they never got in touch me me."
So after MLB stops with the Orioles, Cubs, Giants, Mets and Pirates, he was ready to give the majors another shot at age 35.
"I can be a left-handed pinch-hitter for them and give them insurance in the outfield," he said. "I feel anyone who can get at hot bat on this club would be most graciously accepted."
He was not. His playing career was over, but a long scouting career lay ahead.
