Grissom leaves Major League legacy

CHERYL BRINKLEY-DN Staff Writer
Friday, September 30, 2005 -

RED BLUFF Marvin Grissom will be missed by everyone who came into contact with him.

"All the kids he worked with will miss him," said long-time Red Bluff High School baseball coach Jim Bonomini. "I know I miss him."

Grissom died Sept. 19 at his home in Red Bluff.

Grissom not only helped all the children around Red Bluff and Chico with their pitching, but he pitched in the Major Leagues from 1946 through 1959, including pitching in the World Series in 1954.

"He was always willing to help any kids who needed help with their pitching or whatever," said Grissom's wife, Frances. "He could just see them pitch and know what was wrong. He felt most coaches didn't know what they were doing."

Brandon McConnell is one who was helped by Grissom. He is currently playing in the Minor Leagues and "working my way up."

"I couldn't have done it without him," McConnell said. "I could talk about him all day. I love him. He was a great man. I'll miss him a lot."

When Bonomini began coaching at RBUHS, he asked Grissom for help.

"He helped on a regular basis," Bonomini said. "I'm going to miss him. He was a great guy. Anybody who's ever been around him became a better pitcher and a better person."

Grissom was born and raised in Dairyville. He and his wife knew each other, but their relationship began when he was umpiring one of her softball games in 1939.

"He called me out," Frances Grissom said. "I argued with him. I said they were balls not strikes. So he invited me out for a Coke so we could talk about it."

The couple married in 1942.

Grissom had been playing minor leagues in San Bernardino before he was drafted into the United States Army in 1941. He served until 1945 in the Army Medical Corps.

"They took a farm boy and put him in the operating room assisting doctors," Frances Grissom said. "He learned a lot."

Marvin and Frances Grissom were married for 63 years and had one son, now deceased. There are two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with another on the way.

Frances Grissom said the secret to a long marriage is being good friends and doing things together.

"I fished with him, and I hunted with him. It was either join him or be without him," Francis Grissom said.

Marvin Edward Grissom, age 87, died Monday, September 19, 2005.

Marv is survived by his wife of 63 years, Frances Grissom; two grandson's Brandon and Shannon Grissom; two great-granddaughters, Katelyn and Emily Grissom and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Bruce in June of 2003. He was a resident of Tehama County his entire life.

Marv was a professional baseball player who started his career in 1941. He played with the United States Army Baseball Team while serving in World War II from 1941-1945. He then went on to play for the New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants including the 1954 All-Star Game and the 1954 World Series. Marv continued to coach throughout his career. He was dedicated to helping the youth of baseball by coaching many local Red Bluff baseball players who had the dream to make it to the big leagues.

Marv was extremely active in the community, as a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners, and Wilcox Oaks Golf Club.He was an avid deer hunter both locally and out of state. Marv loved to fish, especially for Steelhead. Marv was a wonderful man who loved to garden and spend time outdoors. Marv was a very inspirational man who touched many lives. Upon his request, there will not be a service. Donations can be made to the Shriners Children Hospital in lieu of flowers.