“Raw emotion, humorous anecdotes, throngs of cheering fans, moments that were bittersweet, others that embraced thankfulness. And there was even a musical soundtrack provided by a former player. The 2019 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony had it all.
Edgar Martinez
| Birthdate | 01/02/1963 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1987 |
| Year of Induction | 2019 |
| Teams | Mariners |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, First Base, Third Base |
Edgar Martinez spent his entire 18-year big league career in Seattle and was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Edgar Martinez is one of the greatest designated hitters in baseball history
Edgar Martinez is one of the greatest designated hitters in baseball history
Edgar Martinez could hit with the best of them. From 1987-2004 he terrorized American League pitchers as the designated hitter for the Seattle Mariners.
The two-time batting champ hit 40 or more doubles five times and drove in 100+ runs in six seasons. An on-base machine, he topped the .400 more in OBP in 12 of his 18 seasons. As of 2021, his .418 career OBP ranks 21st all time.
Martinez’ trophy case if brimming with awards. He has seven All Star rings, and five Silver Slugger Awards. The Roberto Clemente Award recipient in 2004, Martinez was named the Outstanding Designated Hitter five times. The the Associated Press discontinued the award, the Baseball Writers of America picked it up and renamed it The Edgar Martinez Award.
When he retired in 2004, Martinez was one of only six players in MLB history to have a career .300 averaged, .400 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, 500 doubles, and 300 homers. Martinez was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007. His #11 was retired by the team in 2017. In 2019 he was welcomed into Cooperstown.
As of 2021, the only Hall of Famers with more than half their at bats as a DH are Frank Thomas, Harold Baines, and Martinez. David Ortiz figures to join them.
In the collection is this contract between Topps Chewing Gum and Martinez. After signing this it on March 11, 1998 he continued to solidify his career. From the time he inked the deal until it expired at the end of the 2002 season, Martinez twice led the league in on-base percentage. He won a Silver Slugger Award and played in two All Star games in the duration of the contract.
Cooperstown class of 2019 featured Edgar Martinez and five others
Cooperstown class of 2019 featured Edgar Martinez and five others
The Hall of Fame’s website described the 2019 induction beautifully.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, with temperatures in the low 80s with occasional cloud cover, the wait for baseball immortality finally came to an end for six of the sport’s greats from the last few decades. Historic closers Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith, durable and consistent starting pitchers Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay and slugging designated hitters Harold Baines and Edgar Martinez were inducted as the Class of 2019.”
Baines and Smith got the nod via the Veterans Committee; the other four were writers’ selections. Their inclusion brought the total number of Hall of Famers to 329.
Shown here the autograph of 203-game winner Halladay on a receipt for his 2011 All Star Game ring.
