Edgar’s career filled with singular moments

Pedro Martínez and Mariano Rivera agreed that Edgar Martínez ranked among the many hardest hitters they confronted. If ever a vote of two people might be thought-about a landslide verdict, this is able to be it, since Rivera’s standing as the sport’s premier nearer spanned Pedro Martínez’s heyday as an elite starter.

With Edgar Martinez turning 60 in the present day, right here’s a take a look at 10 of his many highlights throughout his Seattle Mariners profession:

1. “The double”
Oct. 8, 1995

With the Mariners trailing the New York Yankees, 5-4, within the eleventh inning of the Game 5 clincher of the American League Division Series, Martínez roped a two-run double off Jack McDowell to raise the Mariners to a 6-5 victory and propel them to the AL Championship Series for the primary time in franchise historical past. More importantly, Martínez’s hit, merely generally known as “the double” in native lore, strengthened help for a poll initiative resulting in the vote for a baseball-only stadium in Seattle that assured the franchise’s future within the metropolis.

2. A surprising solo act
Oct. 3-7, 1995

Before Game 5, there needed to be a Game 4. Martínez thrived in that one, too. He tied a postseason file by driving in seven runs with a three-run homer and a grand slam to guide the Mariners to an 11-8 victory that evened the sequence at two video games apiece. In the sequence, Martínez batted .571 (12-for-21).

3. Routine excellence
1990-2001

Beginning in 1990, when he hit .302, Martínez batted greater than .300 in 10 of 12 seasons. The epitome of consistency, he recorded slugging percentages exceeding .400 in 15 of his 18 profession seasons en path to a profession mark of .515.

4. Professional hitter
1995-2004

Martínez turned a full-time designated hitter in 1995. Fittingly, he received the AL batting title that 12 months, ending at .356 to outlast the likes of Chuck Knoblauch (.333), Tim Salmon (.330), Wade Boggs (.324) and Eddie Murray (.323). Martínez additionally topped the Majors in on-base share (.479), OPS (1.107) and OPS+ (185).

5. Nice credentials
1987-2004

Martínez turned certainly one of 22 Major Leaguers to bat not less than .300, file an on-base share of .400 or greater and scale the .500 slugging share plateau whereas amassing 5,000 or extra plate appearances. He additionally was named to seven All-Star groups and acquired 5 Silver Slugger awards.

6. Slump-free zone
1987-2004

A take a look at Martínez’s month-by-month splits reveals his exceptional consistency. He hit .297 in April/March, .323 in May, .306 in June, .314 in July, .315 in August and .310 in September/October.

Quite a lot of leg accidents hampered Martínez in his previous few seasons. He nonetheless managed to carry out successfully, notably in 2003, when he was named to the AL All-Star roster. He smashed a foul ball off his toe in September, but completed with a .294 batting common, 24 dwelling runs and a .406 on-base share. That was sufficient to earn him his fifth and remaining Silver Slugger trophy.

8. Changing views
2019

Martínez was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019, his remaining 12 months of eligibility, with 85.4 % of the vote — a considerable improve over the 70.4 he acquired the 12 months earlier than, and properly above the 75 % determine wanted for induction. At challenge was the truth that Martínez was primarily a delegated hitter and thus thought-about by some to be a one-dimensional performer who had no business ascending to Cooperstown. The election of a number of aid pitchers to the Hall helped take away the stigma of being a “specialist.” Martínez endured an extended climb from the 36.2 % vote whole he garnered in 2010 to develop into the second participant to enter the Hall as a Mariner, becoming a member of Ken Griffey Jr.

Martínez acquired the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious humanitarian honor, following his remaining season as an energetic participant. Martínez was the primary Puerto Rican-born participant to win the Clemente Award.

Martínez turned Seattle’s hitting coach 68 video games into the 2015 common season, with the group batting .233 and averaging 3.4 runs per sport. Under Martínez, Seattle hit .260 and scored 4.5 runs per sport within the season’s remaining 94 video games. Martínez stepped down from the place after the 2018 season to spend extra time along with his household.