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In the collection is a Dodger scouting report written by Gary Sutherland on Pedro Martinez dated four months before the Hall of Fame pitcher’s debut. Los Angeles scouts weren’t sold on the future of young Martinez, giving him a prospect key rank of 5, “ML starter or quality reliever”.

Foreshadowing Martinez’ swashbuckling style, Sutherland writes, “Spots FB well & will come inside — has a very effective change up and will throw it at any time”.

Martinez became much more than a big league starter or quality reliever. Four years after the Dodgers traded him, Martinez blossomed into one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. From 1997-2000 he won 77 games and posted a 2.16 ERA. He won the Cy Young three times and finished second in ’98.

The 219-game winner led the league in ERA five times, and in strikeouts thrice. In 2015 he was inducted into Cooperstown as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

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Pedro Martinez was a 20-year old pitcher when he debuted for the Dodgers on September 24, 1992. He pitched two scoreless innings that night before 18,707 fans as Dodger Stadium, giving up his first hit to Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. In his only other appearance that season, Martinez took the loss when he allowed two runs in a six-inning effort. The following year he went 10-5 with a 2.61 ERA.

The 1993 off season changed his career. Los Angeles offered second baseman Jody Reed a three-year $7.8 million dollar contract. Reed rejected the deal, leaving LA with a hole at second base. The Dodgers eyed Montreal 24-year old second sacker Delino DeShields.

The runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting in 1990, DeShields earned support in MVP balloting in ’92. By all accounts the speedy DeShields was an up-and-comer. Dodger GM Tommy Lasorda traded for DeShields to fill the hole left by Reed. The cost was high – future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.

DeShields played three seasons in Los Angeles and hit .241. Martinez went on to become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He blossomed into a three-time Cy Young Award winner whose final baseball destination was Cooperstown. The trade goes down as one of the worst in Dodger history.

In the collection is ticket stub from Pedro Martinez’ big league debut, signed by the pitcher in the clubhouse the next day.

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The Cy Young Award was originated in 1956 to recognize pitching excellence. Through 1966 it was given to the singular best twirler in the major leagues. Then in 1967, it was expanded to honor a pitcher in each league.

Through the award’s first 70 years 22 pitchers earned multiple nods. Half of them picked up the honor a third time.

Pedro Martinez is one of the 11 to capture the Cy at least three times. Baseball writers bestowed it to the Red Sox ace three times in four years starting in 1997. During his run of dominance, Martinez claimed 77 victories against 25 losses. His ERA was a stingy 2.16 in the heart of the steroid era. The four years saw him average 9.4 WAR and 288 strikeouts per season.

Roger Clemens is the most-decorated recipient with 7 Cy Young plaques. Left-hander Randy Johnson is next with 5 nods. A pair of Cooperstown men, Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux won four each. Along with Pedro, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, and Sandy Koufax have three each.

Shown here is a 1961 Topps card autographed by Koufax and LA teammate Johnny Podres. The Left Arm of God earned his trio of Cy Young Award in his final four years with the Dodgers from 1963-1966. Koufax was baseball’s first three-time Cy Young winner.

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Pedro Martinez was flat-out filthy. His fearlessness, fastball, and changeup helped him to a 219-100 career record. When he retired, the Dominican’s .687 winning percentage placed him fourth all time. The number is also the best among right-handers in the modern era.

A strikeout pitcher, Martinez reached 3,000 Ks in less innings pitchers than anyone not named Randy Johnson. Martinez remains the only pitcher to retire with 3,000 strikeouts and less than 3,000 innings.

Author and official Dodger historian Mark Langill penned this letter after donating the Martinez-signed stub to the CooperstownExpert.com collection. Langill writes, “Thought your collection would be the perfect home for Pedro Martinez’ Major League Debut. He was very gracious and signed it the day after the debut in the clubhouse. I know it will have a place in your Hall of Fame collection.”