Marvin Keith “Red” O’Dell

Baseball

Marvin Keith “Red” O’Dell, son of Bill and Patty Moss O’Dell, was born in Carthage, MO on October 6, 1957. He was a 1975 graduate of Carthage High School, a 1980 graduate of Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Missouri, and attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Red began his baseball career at a young age. He played Peewee, Little League, and Babe Ruth League and was frequently selected for the All-Star teams. Known for his athletic ability, he was a member of the junior bowling league, played football and basketball in junior high school, basketball and baseball in high school, and American Legion Baseball in the summers.  

O’Dell joined the Missouri Southern State baseball team as a walk on pitcher before moving to center field. Red was a four-year letterman for the Lions, during which time they won 90 games. While playing for the Lions (1976 – 1979) he was an All-Area and All-American selection in 1978 and helped to lead the Lions to a 24-16 record. O’Dell was selected to play on an NAIA All Star Team that toured the Far East and played U.S. Army baseball teams in the summer of 1978.

In 2009, Red was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame. At the time of his induction, O’Dell held the record for most walks in a season with 83 free passes in 1979 and his .557 on base percentage that season was the fourth all-time. He stole 3 bases in one game, the third all time, and led the team with 30 stolen bases in 1979, also the third all time. He ranked fifth all-time in career stolen bases with 53 and led the team with 52 runs scored in 1979. Red was a defensive standout, making only 3 errors in the three years in center field for the Lions.  

After graduating from MSSC with his degree in Physical Education, Mr. O’Dell taught at Carthage Junior High School, Kansas City, MO, and Cotulla, TX before returning to Carthage, MO where he worked for the Carthage Parks Department, maintaining the Fair Acres Sports Complex ballfields. He then worked at Center Creek Golf Course as the golf superintendent before retiring due to health issues. Red took great pride in his work maintaining the parks, ball fields, and golf course. He passed away on November 25, 2023.