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Edgar Martinez
Born: 1963

  • Cousin of Carmelo Martinez
    [Courtesy Arnie Braunstein]
  • DH-3B 1987- Mariners

    Edgar Martinez's Teammates

    • All-Star in 1992, 95-97, 2000

    GamesAverageHRRBI
    Career 1540.320235925
    League DS 12.396515
    League CS 12.15914

    Stats through the 2000 season

    Books and articles about Edgar Martinez

    As peaceful as his Puerto Rican hometown of Maguayo, where former players Carmelo Martinez and Jose Lind grew up, Martinez is considered one of the best designated hitters ever. Ironically, he was scouted as having a good glove but no bat, and came into the bigs playing third. But when he switched primarily to the DH slot in 1995, he posted offensive numbers mind-boggling even for the '90s power-laden era.
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    Though constantly overshadowed by the feats of his more prominent teammates Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., and Alex Rodriguez, the Puerto Rican slugger began to get noticed as the superstars departed. As it became clear that he was one of the run-producing cogs that held the Mariners together, Martinez got the respect he deserved.

    One of the few players in recent years to play his full career with one team, Edgar was signed by the Seattle Mariners in 1982 and bounced between the minors and majors through 1989. Though he crushed the ball in Calgary, it took him three years before he secured a starting spot on the Mariners' squad, replacing Jim Presley at third in 1990. The soft-spoken slugger floundered at the hot corner in the beginning, registering a .928 fielding percentage his first full season, but showed promise with a .302 batting average and 27 doubles.

    Martinez improved his all-around game over the next two years, and in 1992 posted a league-leading 46 doubles and .343 average -- just the second player ever to lead the league in batting while playing for a last-place team. Though floundering in the cellar, Seattle displayed their trust in the hitter, signing him to a new three-year, $10 million contract extension. When asked by reporters what the first thing he'd do with his new-found wealth, Martinez stayed true to his genial, caring nature, saying that he'd "buy heart medicina" for his grandmother.

    Unfortunately, Martinez severely injured his hamstring during the final exhibition game the following spring and was limited to just 42 games. Charged up and ready to play in 1994, Martinez was plunked on the wrist on Opening Day and played only 89 games that season.

    With mounting criticism surrounding him -- that his crazy batting style (pigeon-toed feet and an oddly-cocked bat) had slowed down his swing, and that injuries had dampened his play -- Martinez returned the following year with a vengeance. He paced the league with a .356 batting average, 121 runs, and 52 doubles, while slamming 29 longjacks and driving in 113.

    By then, Martinez had switched to mostly DH duties, and became synonymous with the "position." And for good reason, as his offense was obviously the stronger part of his game: Between 1995 and 2000, Martinez averaged 103 runs, 42 doubles, 29 homers, and nearly 110 RBIs per year. During that span, he never hit under .322 or had an OPS under .996.

    After Griffey left the Mariners in February 2000, it was widely assumed that Martinez's RBI total would severely suffer, now that he was left naked without one of the most feared sluggers in the game hitting in front of him. Just the opposite. Martinez drove in a league-leading 145 RBIs in 2000, guiding Seattle to the postseason for the third time in six years. (AG)


    Contribute your recollections of Edgar Martinez by clicking here.
    FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
    » May 6, 1990: Mariners 3B Edgar Martinez makes four errors in a 5–4 win over the Orioles, tying the American League record last equaled by Mike Blowers just three days ago.

    » July 15, 1991: Seattle's Edgar Martinez just misses hitting for the cycle for the second game in a row. He stokes a single, double, and triple in a 5-1 win over the Yankees. On the 14th, he had two singles, a triple, and a home run against the Indians.

    » July 24, 1991: In a game against the Mariners, the Yankees score three runs on a ground ball hit back to the pitcher. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 4th, Pat Kelly hits a comebacker to Erik Hanson. The Seattle hurler traps Kevin Maas in a rundown between 3rd and home, but Maas scores when 3B Edgar Martinez's throw hits him in the back. The ball rolls up the 1st base line in foul territory where it is recovered by C Dave Cochrane. Cochrane throws home to head off Alvaro Espinoza who is also attempting to score. The throw goes into the Mariners' dugout allowing Espinoza and Kelly to cross the plate with the 2nd and 3rd runs.

    » August 7, 1992: As of today, the No. one hitters in the AL and NL, Edgar Martinez and John Kruk, are both hitting .341. The No. two hitters in each league, Kirby Puckett and Andy Van Slyke, are both hitting .331. The No. three hitters in each league, Shane Mack and Gary Sheffield, are both hitting .329.

    » June 11, 1993: Seattle P Erik Hanson allows four runs on a single in the 4th inning of the Mariners' 8-2 loss to California. With the bases loaded, Greg Myers strokes a single to left. Left fielder Henry Cotto boots the ball, then throws over the head of C Bill Haselman as two runs score. Hanson, who is backing up home, fires a throw over 3B Edgar Martinez's head allowing two more runners to score.

    » October 2, 1995: In a one-game playoff, Randy Johnson pitches the Mariners to a 9-1 win over the Angels. The Cy Young winner-to be strikes out 12 and allows just 3 hits as the M's make the post season for the first time in 19 years. Edgar Martinez is 2-for-3 to finish at .356 and win his 2nd batting title. He is the first AL right handed hitter in the last 50 years to win 2 batting titles, though its been done 4 times in the NL (Aaron, Clemente, Davis, Madlock).

    » October 8, 1995: Edgar Martinez’s 2-run double in the bottom half of the 11th innings gives the Mariners a dramatic 6-5 win, and a 3-games-to-2 victory over the Yankees in the Division Series. Martinez bats .571 with 10 RBIs against the Yankees. Ken Griffey, Jr., who beats the relay home to score the winning run, has 5 homers in the series.

    » May 15, 1996: The Mariners spot the Yankees four runs, then hammer starter Jimmy Key and five other pitchers for 19 hits to win 10–5. Seven Mariners collect two or more hits, and Edgar Martinez drives in four runs. A wild Key takes his 5th straight loss, while Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera records four outs to stretch his runless innings to 21 2/3. The Yanks will place Key on the 15 day DL.

    » May 21, 1996: At Fenway Park, Seattle pounds out 19 hits to beat Boston, 13–7. Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the 7th-youngest player to collect 200th homers, when he connects in the M's 6-run 4th inning: Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron were all younger. Jay Buhner hits a 2-run shot in the inning, the 5th game in a row he's connected, and Edgar Martinez adds four hits in the game.

    » July 6, 1996: The Seattle Mariners ride three solo home runs by Edgar Martinez to a 9-5 win over the Texas Rangers.

    » September 16, 1996: The Mariners stop the Rangers, 6–0, as Jamie Moyer pitches eight innings of hitless ball. Edgar Martinez collects his 50th double, just the 5th player this century to hit 50 doubles in two straight years.

    » May 26, 1997: At the Metrodome, Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner both homer twice, and Joey Cora extends his hitting streak to 21 games as Seattle wins, 13–8. Martinez collects a pair of three-run homers, while Buhner's are two solo shots as the Mariners won for just the third time in 11 games. Cora leads off the game with a homer, and Russ Davis finishes with a solo homer in the ninth for Seattle. Scott Sanders is shaky but wins his first of the year for the M's.

    » June 25, 1997: Seattle beats Oakland 9–4 with the help of homers by Paul Sorrento, Edgar Martinez and backup C John Marzano, his first since 1989. Oakland outhits the M's 12–11.

    » May 17, 1999: The Mariners defeat the Twins, 15-5, as LF Butch Huskey gets four hits, including two homers, and drives home seven runs. DH Edgar Martinez also hits a pair of 4-baggers for Seattle and scores five times.

    » May 18, 1999: The Mariners defeat the Twins, 10-1, as Seattle DH Edgar Martinez clouts three home runs and drives home four runs.

    » October 3, 2000: The Mariners defeat the White Sox, 7-4 in 10 innings, in the 1st game of their AL division series. Edgar Martinez and John Olerud hit consecutive homers off Keith Foulke for the margin of victory.

    » October 15, 2000: The Mariners defeat the Yankees, 6-2, to close within one game of the New Yorkers, who hold a 3-games-to-2 lead in the ALCS. Edgar Martinez and John Olerud hit successive home runs in the 5th inning for Seattle.

    » June 8, 2001: The Mariners (47-12) swamp the Padres, 7-1, for their 15th straight victory. Paul Abbott (7-2) gets help in the 1st inning when Edgar Martinez and Bret Boone homer off Kevin Jarvis.

    » October 11, 2001: The Mariners even their series with the Indians with a 5-1 victory. Mike Cameron, Edgar Martinez, and David Bell smack homers to back the pitching of Jamie Moyer, who gets the win.

    » October 14, 2001: Seattle ties its series with Cleveland at two games apiece with a 6-2 victory. Down 1-0, the Mariners score six times over the final three innings. Edgar Martinez's 2-run homer in the 9th caps the scoring as Freddy Garcia gets the win.