Books and articles about Pedro Martinez

Not to be confused with an unrelated, less talented Pedro Martinez who pitched for various teams in the mid-1990s, the brother of one-time Dodgers hurler Ramon Martinez emerged from his sibling's shadow after a trade for Delino DeShields sent him from Los Angeles to Montreal at the end of 1993. North of the border, this Pedro established himself as a major talent with a Cy Young award-winning season in 1997, going 17-8 with an major-league-best 1.90 ERA, 305 strikeouts, and a league-leading 13 complete games, all despite being bothered by a strained ligament in his right thumb. He held NL batters to a .184 batting average and was the first ERA leader with 300 strikeouts since Steve Carlton turned the trick in 1972. Two years later, he won another Cy Young Award with the Boston Red Sox.

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Martinez was brilliant working out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in his first full season in 1993. He appeared in a Dodger rookie-record 65 games, placing third among National League rookies with 10 wins (which also led all NL relievers) and 119 strikeouts. When he relieved his brother, Ramon, in his first appearance of the season, it was the first time since Rick and Mickey Mahler both took the mound with the Atlanta Braves in 1979 that two brothers had pitched for the same team in the same game.

But the Dodgers, who needed a second baseman and a leadoff hitter, felt the wiry hurler wasn't durable enough to become a top-flight starter, so they sent Martinez to Montreal for DeShields. It was the worst trade Los Angeles had made in a long time. After winning 11 games in 1994, Martinez emerged as the ace of a young Expos squad after Ken Hill was traded to St. Louis before the start of the 1995 season, leading the club with 14 wins and 174 strikeouts -- both fifth in the league -- and holding opposing batters to a .227 average. On June 3, he was perfect for nine innings against the Padres in San Diego, but lost the perfect game when Bip Roberts led off the 10th with a double.

During his early years in Montreal, Martinez also gained a reputation as a headhunter. In his 23 starts in 1994, "Senor Plunk" was ejected 12 times and participated in three fights, including one precipitated by Cincinnati's Reggie Sanders when he was hit in the arm by a Martinez fastball. The plunking came with one out in the eighth inning -- Martinez had been working on a perfect game. In 1995, Pedro hit 11 batters and received three warnings -- plus a $500 fine for pelting Houston's Luis Gonzalez. Martinez denied that he targeted opposing batters, instead maintaining that his tiring arm would sometimes cause fastballs to sail away wildly.

In 1996, the painfully thin Martinez struck out 222 batters, and was selected to the All-Star team. But he won only 13 games, primarily because the Expos scored just 22 runs in his 10 losses. Mounting frustration may have gotten to the temperamental pitcher in late September, when he was suspended for eight games for charging the mound after the Phillies' Mike Williams threw at him twice in retaliation for beaning Philadelphia outfielder Gregg Jefferies.

The Expos' anemic bats didn't stop Martinez from winning eight in a row to start the 1997 season, becoming the first Montreal pitcher to achieve the feat since Tim Burke won his first eight decisions in 1995. By mid-season he was 10-4 with a 1.74 ERA and was named to his second consecutive All-Star team. But by the end of the season, speculation was rife that the cash-strapped Expos were looking to trade him before he left as a free agent. Certainly his value rose when he won the Cy Young Award, which he dedicated to fellow Dominican Juan Marichal, who never won the coveted award despite six twenty-win seasons.

Martinez was indeed traded before the 1998 season -- to the Boston Red Sox, who needed an ace to replace the departed Roger Clemens, who had signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Upon arrival, Martinez was quickly inked to a six-year, $75 million deal. A large contingent of Dominican fans packed Fenway Park for Martinez's debut and saw their hero hold the Seattle Mariners to two hits and no runs. Despite a fine season (19-7, 2.89, 251 strikeouts) in which he led the Red Sox to a wild card berth in the playoffs, Martinez fell short in the Cy Young Award balloting to Clemens, who garnered all 28 first-place votes.

For an encore, Martinez turned in one of the most dominating seasons ever enjoyed by a major-league pitcher. As ERAs and batting averages soared around the league, Martinez defied the offensive surge with a 23-4 record, 313 strikeouts, and a miniscule 2.07 ERA. On pace to win 30 games in the first half, the law of averages and a late-season stint on the DL stopped him from reaching the magic plateau. Nevertheless, he won his second Cy Young Award (joining Ferguson Jenkins and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to win in both leagues) and finished second in the MVP balloting to Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Martinez's best work came in the spotlight. In the All-Star Game, Martinez retired all six batters he faced, striking out five and taking home MVP honors. The highlight of the season was a 3-1 complete-game victory over the Yankees on August 10. Facing the defending (and eventual) world champs, Martinez allowed only one hit and struck out 17. After the game, some observers called it the best game ever pitched at Yankee Stadium.

However, Martinez's back strain limited his availability in the playoffs. In Game One of the Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, he was limited to four innings, and Boston lost by one run after the bullpen blew a 2-0 lead. Martinez didn't appear again until the deciding Game Five, when he relieved a battered Bret Saberhagen in the fourth inning with the score tied 8-8. Pedro threw six hitless innings as Boston took the series with a 12-8 victory. But Martinez was only able to make one start in the ALCS. It proved to be the only game the Red Sox would win, as the Yankees took the series 4-1. (SW/AF)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 17, 1993: Expos OF Curtis Pride -- who is mostly deaf -- gets his 1st major league hit in Montreal's 8-7, 12-inning win over the Phillies. The Phillies score all seven in the 6th when they knock out Pedro Martinez. Darren Daulton homers and Lenny Dykstra hits a triple in the frame. Mitch Williams walks two and gives up a hits in the 12th in losing. Tim Scott is the winner, striking out the side in the 12th. » November 19, 1993: The Expos acquire P Pedro Martinez from the Dodgers in exchange for 2B Delino DeShields. » April 13, 1994: Montreal P Pedro Martinez's bid for a perfect game, in only his 5th major league start, goes down the tubes as he hits Reds OF Reggie Sanders on an 0-2 count with one out in the 8th inning. Sanders apparently thinks that Martinez did it deliberately and charges the mound, setting off a bench-clearing brawl. When order is restored, Martinez loses his no-hitter when Brian Dorsett singles to lead off the 9th. He does not figure in the decision, as the Reds rally to tie. Montreal wins, 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the inning. » June 3, 1995: Pitching against the Padres, Expos P Pedro Martinez (4–1) retires the first 27 batters, only to see the Pods Bip Roberts lead off the 10th inning with a double. Reliever Mel Rojas then retires the next three batters. San Diego starter Joey Hamilton is almost as good, giving up just three hits and no runs through nine innings. Reliever Brian Williams yields Jeff Treadway's RBI single in the top of the 10th. With the rules regarding no-hitters revised in 1991, Martinez receives credit for neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter. The win moves the Expos to within three games of the National League East-leading Phillies. » May 1, 1996: The Mets and Expos swap shutouts, with Pedro Martinez topping New York in the opener, 4–0, and Jason Isringhausen allowing four hits in winning the nightcap, 6–0. Martinez, 8–0 against the Mets, allows just two singles, both in the 7th inning. Henry Rodriguez, who hits a 3-run homer after apparently peeking at Mets C Todd Hundley glove, says, "I've got 10 homers, I don't need to look back." » August 29, 1996: In the battle of brothers, the Dodgers Ramon Martinez beats his brother Pedro Martinez of the Expos, 2–1. Mike Piazza and Eric Karros hit consecutive home runs in the 4th for all the scoring off Pedro, while the Expos manage just three hits. The two had never faced each other before. » June 30, 1997: In the first regular-season game between Canada's ML teams, the Expos emerge a 2–1 winner over the Blue Jays. Pedro Martinez allows three hits, including a solo home run by Carlos Delgado, and strikes out 10 while Vladimir Guerrero hits a home run in his first interleague at-bat. » July 13, 1997: With the temperature at 100 degrees, Pedro Martinez fires a one-hit shutout to beat the Reds, 2–0. The Expos' ace gives up a single to Bret Boone in the 5th for the only hit. Mike Lansing triples twice for the Expos before leaving in the 5th inning with exhaustion. » July 29, 1997: Pedro Martinez strikes out 13 Rockies, including Andres Galarraga four times, in Montreal's, 3–0 win. Martinez gives up just three hits in going all the way. » November 11, 1997: Pedro Martinez is named National League Cy Young Award winner. » November 18, 1997: In one of their best swaps ever, the Red Sox obtain Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez from the Expos in exchange for P Carl Pavano and a player to be named. » May 20, 1998: Behind Pedro Martinez (5-0), the Red Sox beat the White Sox, 6–2, pinning the loss on Jaime Navarro. It is Navarro's 1st loss to the Red Sox following 10 straight wins, dating back to 1991. » July 2, 1998: The Red Sox and Pedro Martinez pile on the Expos, defeating them 15–0 at Fenway. The Sox collect 20 hits for Pedro. » March 11, 1999: The Red Sox sign free agent P Ramon Martinez to a contract, uniting him with his brother, Pedro Martinez. » May 7, 1999: Pedro Martinez fans 15 Angels as Boston defeats Anaheim, 6-0, for his league-leading 6th victory. » May 12, 1999: The Red Sox sink the Mariners, 9-2, as Boston hurler Pedro Martinez fans 15 batters for the 2nd consecutive game. » June 4, 1999: In a battle of East Division leaders, the Red Sox defeat the Braves, 5-1, behind the 3-hit pitching of Pedro Martinez. The Boston righthander fans 16 batters in notching his 11th victory of the year. » June 9, 1999: The Expos pound the Red Sox, 13-1, handing Pedro Martinez (11–2) his first loss in two months. Pedro still fans 10. Mike Thurman gets win pitching into the 8th inning. Montreal scores eight in the 8th, including a 3-run home run by rookie relief P Guillermo Mota in his 1st major league at bat. He'll have a sac in his only other plate appearance this year. » June 26, 1999: Boston scores 11 runs in the 1st inning on the way to a 17-1 victory over the White Sox. Pedro Martinez (14-2) goes five innings with John Wasdin pitching the last 4. Brian Daubach and Nomar Garciaparra homer in the 1st with Nomar adding another in the 3rd. Mike Stanley and Jason Varitek also homer in the game for Boston. » July 13, 1999: The American League defeats the National League, 4-1, to win the All-Star Game at Fenway Park in Boston. Red Sox P Pedro Martinez is named the game's MVP as he strikes out the 1st four hitters to bat against him, and five of the six he faces in his two innings of work. The game begins 15 minutes late as Hall of Fame OF Ted Williams rides out in a cart for the first-pitch ceremony. Players from both teams surround the former Red Sox star in a spontaneous display of homage. » September 4, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Mariners, 4-0, as Pedro Martinez wins his 20th game, striking out 15 batters in eight innings of work. » September 10, 1999: The Red Sox trip the Yankees, 3-1, as Pedro Martinez hurls an impressive one-hitter for his 21st victory of the year. Martinez strikes out 17 batters, the most Yankees ever fanned in a single game. DH Chili Davis' 2nd inning home run is NY's only safety. Chuck Knoblauch leading off the game gave the Yankees their only other baserunner he was caught stealing, so Martinez faces just one over the minimum. » September 21, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays, 3-0, as Pedro Martinez fans 12 for his 22nd win. He joins Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to strike out at least 300 in both leagues, and breaks Roger Clemens club mark of 291 strikeouts. » October 6, 1999: The Indians score a run in the last half of the 9th inning to edge the Red Sox, 3-2, in the opener of their American League division series. Boston's starting pitcher, Pedro Martinez, is forced to leave the game in the 4th inning with a pulled muscle in his back. » October 11, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Indians, 12-8, to win their league division series, 3-games-to-2. Troy O'Leary's two home runs, including a grand slam, power the Sox to the victory, as the OF drives home seven of Boston's runs. Nomar Garciaparra draws two intentional walks and both times O'Leary follows with a Pedro Martinez picks up the win by hurling six hitless innings in relief for the Sox. » October 16, 1999: The Red Sox roll over the Yankees, 13-1, behind the pitching of Pedro Martinez. Nomar Garciaparra gets four hits for Boston, while John Valentin drives home five runs. Garciaparra, Valentin, and Brian Daubach all homer for the Sox. New York now leads the ALCS, 2-games-to-1. » November 16, 1999: Surprise! Boston Red Sox P Pedro Martinez is named the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young Award. He led the AL in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Martinez also won the award in the National League, just the 3rd pitcher to do so. » April 15, 2000: Pedro Martinez (7 IP, five H, two R/ER, one BB, nine SO) paces the Red Sox to a 14–2 win over the A's Tim Hudson. Carl Everett had three hits, including two doubles, and four RBI. Three sons of former major-league umpires work the game: Jerry (son of Shag) Crawford, Mike (son of Lou) DiMuro and Brian (son of Tom) Gorman. » May 6, 2000: The Devil Rays defeat the Red Sox, 1-0, ending Pedro Martinez's 13-game winning streak. Martinez strikes out 17 Devil Rays in a losing effort. Steve Trachsel goes the distance to win for Tampa Bay. » July 23, 2000: Behind Pedro Martinez, the Red Sox defeat the White Sox, 1-0. Martinez goes the distance, striking out 15 and not walking a batter. » August 29, 2000: The Red Sox defeat the Devil Rays, 8-0, as Pedro Martinez hurls a 1-hitter. Martinez takes a no-hitter into the 9th inning before John Flaherty leads off with a single. Martinez retires 24 in a row after hitting the game's first batter. Eight Devil Rays are ejected during the course of the game, including manager Larry Rothschild and two coaches. » September 4, 2000: In the Red Sox win over the Mariners, 5-1, Carl Everett of the Sox became only the sixth major-league switch-hitter to drive in 100 runs in both leagues when he knocked in his 100th ribbie of the year. Everett drove in 108 runs for the Houston Astros last season. The other five 100-100 switches were Ted Simmons, Ken Singleton, Eddie Murray, Bobby Bonilla and J.T. Snow. Pedro Martinez is the big star, striking out 11 in eight innings to go 7–0 over the M's. Jamie Moyer loses his 6th in a row, though not his fault as a routine fly ball by Jose Offerman to Mike Cameron becomes a 3-run triple when the center fielder stumbles. Prior to the game, Boston retires Hall of Fame C Carlton Fisk's uniform No. 27. » November 13, 2000: Red Sox P Pedro Martinez is the unanimous winner of the AL Cy Young Award for the 2nd consecutive year, giving him three wins in the last four years. » April 8, 2001: The Red Sox defeat the Devil Rays, 3-0. Boston's Pedro Martinez hurls eight innings of 3-hit shutout ball, and strikes out 16 batters. » May 12, 2001: Pedro Martinez goes seven strong innings as the Red Sox beat Oakland, 9–3. Martinez allows two hits including a 3-run home run by Jason Giambi. Trot Nixon has four hits with a home run, and Manny Ramirez hits a 468 (sic) foot dinger over the Green Monster that ends up on the Mass Turnpike. » April 1, 2002: In the opener at Boston, the Blue Jays take an 8–3 lead against Pedro Martinez and hold on for a 12–11 win. Darrin Fletcher, with four RBIs, hits a sac fly in the 9th for the win. » May 18, 2002: After sitting through a 2-hour rain delay, the Red Sox defeat the Mariners, 4–1, behind the pitching of Pedro Martinez. Martinez strikes out the side in the 1st inning on nine pitches, the 17th time the feat has been performed since 1970. Pedro is now 10–0 against the Mariners, with a 0.93 ERA against them. For the M's, it is just their 4th road defeat in 21 games. » June 8, 2002: In a heralded match of aces at Fenway, Curt Schilling (12-1) and the Diamondbacks beat the Red Sox' Pedro Martinez, 3–2. Pedro, complaining of a sore arm, pitches six innings, gives up three runs on seven hits, and strikes out 10. Schilling allows a solo home run to Carlos Baerga in the 1st, and a run in the 8th in winning his 9th straight. » August 16, 2002: The Twins down the Red Sox, 5–0, in the process ending Pedro Martinez's scoreless inning streak at 35. It is the longest such streak in the majors since 2000. » September 22, 2002: Pedro Martinez (20-4) allows two runs in the 1st inning, then coasts to his 20th win of the season as the Red Sox beat the hapless Orioles, 13–2. Trot Nixon hits a grand slam and Johnny Damon a pair of homers to keep the Sox playoff hopes alive. Martinez joins Derek Lowe in giving the Sox the first pair of 20-game winners since 1949.