Martin reached the big leagues for the first time in his sixth pro season, getting into 10 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers and going 1-3, 6.97. He struck out the very first hitter he faced in the majors, who was none other than Stan Musial. His minor league career had been interrupted when he missed three seasons to serve in the Army during World War II, and he didn't get a full season in the majors until 1951 with the Philadelphia Athletics, who had picked him up in the Rule 5 draft.
Martin made the most of his first season with the A's, going 11-4, 3.78 in 138 innings, seeing time as both a starter and reliever. He wasn't able to build on that momentum in 1952 though, as his pitching hand was struck by a line drive in his fifth start, injuring it badly enough that he couldn't pitch again that season. He got back on the mound in 1953 and went 10-12, 4.44 but was traded to the White Sox the following year. He shuffled between a handful of organizations over the rest of his career, with his last big league stop coming with the Cubs in 1959. In all, Martin compiled a 38-34, 4.29 big league record, making 250 appearances, including 42 starts.
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Morrie was very proud of the fact that he beat the Yankees twice for the lowly A's in 1954.
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