Marquis began his professional career in 1947 with the Lufkin Foresters, hitting .346 with 22 doubles and 16 triples in 140 games.

In 1948, he played for Beaumont (two games) and the Quincy Gems (126), hitting a combined .333 with 15 home runs, 18 triples and 21 doubles.

Marquis split the 1949 season between Beaumont (20 games) and the Binghamton Triplets (106), hitting a combined .236 in 453 at-bats.

On August 28, 1952, he was traded to Cincinnati along with Jim Greengrass, Ernie Nevel, Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 in exchange for Ewell Blackwell.

At the time, Baseball Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby, who had been managerr of Marquis in the minor leagues in 1950, was the Redlegs in 1952.