Books and articles about Jerry Martin

RELATED LINKS Submissions » Major Leaguers in the NCAA Basketball Tournament by David Burkett

Martin was a valuable fourth outfielder and pinch hitter on three consecutive Phillies division championship clubs (1976-78). He hit three pinch homers in 1978 and added another in the LCS. He then spent two seasons as a Cubs regular, hitting 42 HR. He was a streaky hitter, his power coming in bursts. Following a contract dispute, he was traded to the Giants in December of 1980, and to the Royals a year later. The free-swinging Martin didn't adapt well to the AL, where he saw more breaking pitches. A wrist injury and his 1984 suspension for involvement with drugs led to his premature exit from baseball. With ex-teammate Willie Wilson, he served a three-month sentence in the Fort Worth Correctional Institute. His father, Barney, pitched two innings for the 1953 Reds. (DB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 27, 1977: Dan Driessen and Johnny Bench hit back-to-back homers in the 9th inning to give the Reds a 5–4 win over the Phils. Tug McGraw serves up both. Driessen's homer is a line drive that hits the CF wall at Riverfront and rebounds back over Jerry Martin's head all the way to the infield for an IPHR. Bench follows with one over the LF wall. » February 23, 1979: The Phillies trade five players to the Cubs for 2B Manny Trillo, OF Greg Gross, and C Dave Rader. Chicago gets Barry Foote, Jerry Martin, Ted Sizemore, and two minor leaguers. » November 17, 1983: Kansas City Royals teammates Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin, who, along with former teammate Vida Blue, had pleaded guilty to attempting to purchase cocaine, are each sentenced to three months in prison. » December 15, 1983: Commissioner Kuhn suspends convicted Kansas City Royals Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens, and Jerry Martin, and Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe for one season without pay for their use of illegal drugs. The suspensions will be shortened by an arbitrator and lifted on May 15th. » March 16, 1984: The Mets sign suspended OF Jerry Martin as a free agent. » April 3, 1984: Arbitrator Richard Bloch rules that the Royals Willie Wilson and the Mets Jerry Martin can return to action on May 15th, the day their year-long suspensions are first due to be reviewed.