Marlon Anderson: Late 2000's Mets Utility Player (2005 / 2007-2009)
MLB Debut: The five-foot ten left hand hitting Anderson blew through the minor leagues making his MLB debut on September 8th, 1998, against the New York Mets. He greeted New York by blasting a pinch-hit HR off reliever Mel Rojas.
Anderson played in Philadelphia for five seasons & was the Phillies regular second baseman for three of those years (1999/2001-2002).
His best year was 2001 as he batted .293 with 11 HRs 30 doubles & 61 RBIs.
His best year was 2001 as he batted .293 with 11 HRs 30 doubles & 61 RBIs.
In 2003 Placido Polanco replaced him at second base & Chase Utley was also on the horizon. Marlon was let go to free agency & signed with the Tampa Rays batting .270 there with 6 HRs 67 RBIs & 19 stolen bases.
2004 Post Season: He then moved on to spend one season in St. Louis with the Cardinals as a
utility player hitting .237. He went 0-3 in the NLDS win over the Dodgers in pinch hit appearances. In the NLCS he was 1-3 in the win over Houston.
Mets Career: Anderson made his Mets debut on Opening Day 2005 in Cincinnati going 0-1.
utility player hitting .237. He went 0-3 in the NLDS win over the Dodgers in pinch hit appearances. In the NLCS he was 1-3 in the win over Houston.
2004 World Series: In the World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox, he got into four games collecting a double at Fenway Park in Game #1. Overall, he was 2-12 in the post season.
In the off-season Anderson was signed by the New York Mets as a free agent for 2005.
He became the Mets primary pinch hitter in 2005, starting out the season going 5-9 as a pinch hitter through the first two weeks, batting .625.
On April 14th he started a 7th inning rally, with an RBI base hit off former Met John Franco while he was a member of the Houston Astros. He began May going 4-7 as a pinch hitter, scoring three runs in that period.
He was most successful in the pinch-hitting role as he batted over .300 in that spot. He made the best of his opportunities whenever he got chance, playing in the outfield at first & second base.
Inside the Park Game Tying HR: On June 11th during an interleague game against the Los Angeles Angels, he hit inside the park HR off Francisco Rodriguez, in the bottom of the 9th inning.
On July 6th he had two hits driving in two runs including an 8th inning game winning sac fly, helping Tom Glavine to a 5-3 victory. On July 24th he had an 8th inning two run pinch hit single off the Dodgers Scott Erickson, contributing to a 6-0 Mets win.
In a September pennant race game against the San Diego Padres, Anderson went 5-5 hitting two HRs leading the Dodgers to victory.
2006 Post Season: In the NLDS against his old Mets teammates, he was 4-13. In Game #1 he drove in the first run of the series with a double off John Maine.
On August 1st he hit a three run HR off the Brewers Claudio Vargas & drove in four runs helping the Mets to an 8-5 win in Milwaukee.
On August 29th he helped break up a 9th inning double play in Philadelphia with the bases loaded. After Sean Green hit a high chop, Anderson dove into Tadahito Iguchi but was called out for interference, resulting in a double play.
Eventually the Mets lost their divisional lead & missed the playoffs by losing on the last day of the
season.
Mets Blow the Season: When he went down the Mets were one game behind the Phillies in the standings. When he returned the Mets were in first with a two-game lead.
After just four games in 2009 he was designated for assignment & retired from the big leagues.
He played 680 games at second base, 135 games in the outfield & 36 games at first base.
He was most successful in the pinch-hitting role as he batted over .300 in that spot. He made the best of his opportunities whenever he got chance, playing in the outfield at first & second base. Inside the Park Game Tying HR: On June 11th during an interleague game against the Los Angeles Angels, he hit inside the park HR off Francisco Rodriguez, in the bottom of the 9th inning.
The score was tied as he pinch hit bouncing one off the wall away from outfielder Steve Finley, Anderson slid safely into home sending the game to extra innings where the Mets won it on Cliff Floyd's walk off HR.
On July 6th he had two hits driving in two runs including an 8th inning game winning sac fly, helping Tom Glavine to a 5-3 victory. On July 24th he had an 8th inning two run pinch hit single off the Dodgers Scott Erickson, contributing to a 6-0 Mets win.On August 7th, the Mets staged a three-run home 7th inning in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Anderson tied up the game with a pinch-hit single scoring Ramon Castro. The Mets went on to a 9-8 victory.
On September 28th he hit two HRs in a big Met loss at Philadelphia. Then two days later, he hit a HR off Colorado's Byung Hyun Kim, in the 5th inning of a tie game, that ended up being the 3-2 game winner.
Overall, in 2005 he hit .264 with 7 HRs 9 doubles 8 stolen bases & 19 RBIs in 123 games (235 at bats). Anderson was good natured and was usually seen with a smile on his face around the ballpark.
Post Mets Career: In 2006 he signed with the Washington Nationals as Met fans were sorry to see him leave. But in D.D. he got a chance to play every day, batting .274. On August 31st, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for their playoff stretch
Overall, in 2005 he hit .264 with 7 HRs 9 doubles 8 stolen bases & 19 RBIs in 123 games (235 at bats). Anderson was good natured and was usually seen with a smile on his face around the ballpark.
Post Mets Career: In 2006 he signed with the Washington Nationals as Met fans were sorry to see him leave. But in D.D. he got a chance to play every day, batting .274. On August 31st, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for their playoff stretch
In a September pennant race game against the San Diego Padres, Anderson went 5-5 hitting two HRs leading the Dodgers to victory.
He started out 2007 in Los Angles, but after hitting just .231 after 23 games he was released & was signed by the New York Mets.
Return to the Mets: He returned to the Mets on July 19th. In his first game back with the Mets, he drove in two runs gathering up two hits, while playing left field in a 13-9 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Over a five-game hitting streak in mid-August he drove in seven runs,
On August 21st in a game against the Padres at Shea, The Mets came to bat down 6-5 facing reliever Trevor Hoffman, with Lasting's Millidge on second, Anderson singled to tie the game. He would score on Luis Castillo's walk off base hit.
Two days later, he hit a three run HR off Clay Meredith in a 7-6 loss to the Padres.
On August 29th he helped break up a 9th inning double play in Philadelphia with the bases loaded. After Sean Green hit a high chop, Anderson dove into Tadahito Iguchi but was called out for interference, resulting in a double play. Iguchi never touched the base & missed the tag. Replays also show Green would have easily beaten out the throw to first. The result was a Mets loss, completing a four-game sweep.
On August 31st, with the bases loaded he hit a bases clearing double in a 7-1 win over the Braves in Atlanta. He would hit a HR off John Smoltz in a 4-3 win over the Braves on September 12th. It was his third of the year. He had another multi-RBI game on September 20th, driving in three runs in a loss to the Marlins.
season.
Overall, Anderson did well again since coming back to New York, he hit .319 with three HRs seven doubles three stolen bases 25 RBIs & a .355 on base % playing in 43 games. He played 12 games in left field & three in center.
2008: He began the year getting into an outfield collision with Ryan Church during a Spring Training game. When the season started, he struggled & was hitting just .167 before he pulled a hamstring in May, missing almost a month of action. After the injury he was never was able to regain form.
2008: He began the year getting into an outfield collision with Ryan Church during a Spring Training game. When the season started, he struggled & was hitting just .167 before he pulled a hamstring in May, missing almost a month of action. After the injury he was never was able to regain form.
He did not get over the .200 mark in batting until late July. He got hurt again on August 1st pulling his hamstring again in a game with the Colorado Rockies. He missed action for the entire month returning on September 1st. In the last month he was used as a pinch hitter going 1-12.
Mets Blow the Season: When he went down the Mets were one game behind the Phillies in the standings. When he returned the Mets were in first with a two-game lead.
They would lose that lead for good on September 20th & although they had a chance for the wild card, they blew it on the last day of the season, which was the last game played at Shea Stadium. Anderson appeared as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning & grounded out to second base in that game.
On the season he played in 87 games batting .210 with 29 hits 6 doubles one HR 9 RBIs 16 runs scored & 2 stolen bases. He played 25 games in the outfield & 6 at first base.
After just four games in 2009 he was designated for assignment & retired from the big leagues.
Career Stats: In his twelve-year career Anderson hit .265 with 848 hits 174 doubles 20 triples 392 runs scored 71 stolen bases & a .314 on base %.
Family: Anderson has a strong Christian faith. His childhood hero was his great grandfather & his is very close with his family. He & his wife have three children.
Retirement: In 2014 he played with the Newark Bears in the Independent League.
Coach: Anderson was a hitting coach for the A ball Hagerstown Suns (2011-2012) & later was for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2018.
In 2022 he was the director of player development in Alabama at Samford University.
Broadcasting: Anderson has done work as an analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies.
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