Martínez received 2 runs or fewer of run support in 10 of his starts (over one-third of his starts), in which his ERA was a minuscule 1.25 with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts, but his win–loss record was 4–5. Martínez's WHIP in 2000 was 0.74, breaking both the 87-year-old modern Major League record set by Walter Johnson, as well as Guy Hecker's mark of 0.77 in 1882.
Martínez was the first right-handed pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00 since Walter Johnson in 1912. ===Boston Red Sox=== ====1998–1999==== Approaching free agency, Martínez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in November 1997 for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr., and was soon signed to a six-year, $75 million contract (with an option for a seventh at $17 million) by Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette, at the time the largest ever awarded to a pitcher.
This retroactively decertified many no-hit games, including Ernie Shore's perfect relief stint in 1917 and Harvey Haddix's legendary 12 perfect innings in 1959 (lost in the 13th). ===All-Star strikeout streak=== Martínez was selected as the starting pitcher for the American League All-Star team in 1999.
Martínez ended his career with an earned run average (ERA) of 2.93, the sixth-lowest by a pitcher with at least 2,500 innings pitched, since 1920.
This retroactively decertified many no-hit games, including Ernie Shore's perfect relief stint in 1917 and Harvey Haddix's legendary 12 perfect innings in 1959 (lost in the 13th). ===All-Star strikeout streak=== Martínez was selected as the starting pitcher for the American League All-Star team in 1999.
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to . At the time of his retirement as an active player, his career record of 219 wins and 100 losses placed him fourth-highest in winning percentage in MLB history, and was the highest such achievement by a right-hander since the modern pitching era began, in .
Martínez posted an exceptional 1.74 ERA, the AL's lowest since 1978, while winning his third Cy Young Award.
He then pitched briefly for the Azucareros del Este, before rejoining Licey in 1991–92 in a nine-player transaction that included George Bell, José Offerman and Julio Solano, among others. ==Career== ===Los Angeles Dodgers=== Martínez was originally signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988.
One day at the camp, Ramón Martínez clocked his 14-year-old brother's pitches at between 78 and 80 miles per hour. Martínez debuted professionally with the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League during the 1989–90 season.
He then pitched briefly for the Azucareros del Este, before rejoining Licey in 1991–92 in a nine-player transaction that included George Bell, José Offerman and Julio Solano, among others. ==Career== ===Los Angeles Dodgers=== Martínez was originally signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988.
Until 1991, the rules would have judged it differently; however, a rule clarification specified that perfect games, even beyond nine innings, must remain perfect until the game is completed for them to be considered perfect.
Conti also worked with the young pitcher on his English and helped him assimilate to the United States; Martínez later described Conti as his "white daddy." As a minor leaguer in the Dodgers farm system, he was a highly touted prospect although some talent evaluators took issue with his "poise" despite his having a "great fastball and circle-changeup." He made his MLB debut on September 24, 1992, for the Dodgers against the Cincinnati Reds, working two scoreless innings of relief.
(Martínez was 0–1 in two appearances in 1992.) His 5.61 ERA and 1.57 WHIP were also Martínez's worst ever, and for the first time in his career, he failed to strike out at least twice as many batters as he walked (87–44). During his four-year Met contract, Martínez was 32–23 in 79 starts, with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. ===Philadelphia Phillies=== A free agent, Martínez did not sign with a major league team during the winter.
Martínez turned in a strong 1993 season as the Dodgers' setup man, going 10–5 with a 2.61 ERA and 119 strikeouts, in 65 games; his 107 innings led all NL relievers.
With the Dodgers in need of a second baseman after a contract dispute with Jody Reed, Martínez was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino DeShields before the 1994 season. ===Montreal Expos=== It was with the Expos that Martínez developed into one of the top pitchers in baseball.
On April 13, 1994, Martínez took a perfect game through innings until throwing a brushback pitch at Reggie Sanders that led Sanders to immediately charge the mound, starting a bench-clearing brawl.
Martínez ended up with a no-decision in the game, which the Expos eventually won 3–2. On June 3, 1995, Martínez pitched nine perfect innings in a game against the San Diego Padres, before giving up a hit in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Three years later, in 1997, Martínez had a one-hitter against the Reds; the one hit came in the 5th inning. ===Nine perfect innings=== On June 3, 1995, while pitching for Montreal, he retired the first 27 Padres hitters he faced.
[See Memorable Games] In 1996, during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Williams attempted to hit Martínez with retaliatory pitches for an earlier hit batter but failed with two consecutive attempts.
After the second attempt, Martínez charged the mound, and started a bench-clearing fight. In 1997, Martínez posted a 17–8 record for the Expos, and led the league in half a dozen pitching categories, including a 1.90 ERA, 305 strikeouts and 13 complete games pitched, while becoming the only Expo ever to win the National League Cy Young Award.
However, this 1997 total is by far the highest in Martínez's career, as he only completed more than 5 games in one other season (7, in 2000).
Martínez was the first right-handed pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00 since Walter Johnson in 1912. ===Boston Red Sox=== ====1998–1999==== Approaching free agency, Martínez was traded to the Boston Red Sox in November 1997 for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr., and was soon signed to a six-year, $75 million contract (with an option for a seventh at $17 million) by Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette, at the time the largest ever awarded to a pitcher.
Martínez again finished second in AL strikeouts, and was fourth in that winter's Cy Young voting. The seven-year contract he received from the Red Sox had been considered a huge risk in the 1997 off-season, but Martínez had rewarded the team's hopes with two Cy Young Awards, and six Top-4 finishes.
Three years later, in 1997, Martínez had a one-hitter against the Reds; the one hit came in the 5th inning. ===Nine perfect innings=== On June 3, 1995, while pitching for Montreal, he retired the first 27 Padres hitters he faced.
The 13 complete games were tied for the second-highest single-season total in the modern era of baseball since Martínez's career began (Curt Schilling had 15 in 1998; Chuck Finley and Jack McDowell also reached 13 in a year).
Martínez paid immediate dividends in 1998, with a 19–7 record, and finishing second in the American League in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and the Cy Young voting. In 1999, Martínez finished 23–4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts (earning the pitching Triple Crown) in 31 games (29 starts), pitching innings.
He won three Cy Young Awards (1997, 1999, 2000) and was runner-up twice (1998, 2002), posting a cumulative record of 118–36 (.766) with a 2.20 ERA, while leading his league in ERA five times and in winning percentage and strikeouts three times each.
He is also the record holder for the lowest single-season WHIP in major league history (0.737 in ), and is the record holder for the lowest single-season Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) in the live ball era (1.39 in 1999).
Martínez paid immediate dividends in 1998, with a 19–7 record, and finishing second in the American League in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and the Cy Young voting. In 1999, Martínez finished 23–4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts (earning the pitching Triple Crown) in 31 games (29 starts), pitching innings.
LaVelle Neal III went about it was unprofessional." In 1999, Martínez became just the 9th modern pitcher to have a second 300-strikeout season, along with Nolan Ryan (6 times), Randy Johnson (third time in 1999, and three more times since), Sandy Koufax (3 times), Rube Waddell, Walter Johnson, Sam McDowell, J.
On May 1, 1999, against Oakland, he came inside to Olmedo Saenz, hitting him.
if you get fresh with me or do something to show me up, I'll drill your ass. Between August 1999 and April 2000, Martínez had ten consecutive starts with 10 or more strikeouts.
Only three pitchers have had as many as seven such starts in a row, and one of those was Martínez himself, in April–May 1999.
During the 1999 season, he set the record for most consecutive innings pitched with a strikeout, with 40.
(Nolan Ryan had 27, and Randy Johnson had 29.) Martínez was named the AL Pitcher of the Month in April, May, June and September 1999 – 4 times in a single season.
Martínez punctuated his dominance in the 1999 All-Star Game start at Fenway Park, when he struck out Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell in two innings.
Martínez later said that the 1999 All-Star break was especially memorable for him because he was able to meet the members of the MLB All-Century Team and get an autograph from Ted Williams. Martínez was a focal point of the 1999 playoffs against the Cleveland Indians.
Relying totally on his curve, Martínez and the Red Sox won the deciding game 12–8. In the American League Championship Series, Martínez pitched seven shutout innings to beat Red Sox nemesis Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees in Game 3, handing the World Champions their only loss of the 1999 postseason. ====2000–2004==== Following up 1999, Martínez had perhaps his best year in 2000.
Martínez also set an American League record in K/BB, with a ratio of 8.88, surpassing the previous record set by Martínez in 1999 of 8.46. When opposing teams had runners in scoring position, however, Martínez was even stingier.
The 32 strikeouts tied Luis Tiant's 32-year American League record for most strikeouts over two games. In the span of 1999 and 2000, Martínez allowed 288 hits and 69 walks in 430 innings, with 597 strikeouts, an 0.83 WHIP, and a 1.90 ERA.
This retroactively decertified many no-hit games, including Ernie Shore's perfect relief stint in 1917 and Harvey Haddix's legendary 12 perfect innings in 1959 (lost in the 13th). ===All-Star strikeout streak=== Martínez was selected as the starting pitcher for the American League All-Star team in 1999.
The game, on July 13, 1999, was at Fenway Park, Martínez's home field.
Martínez then proceeded to strike out Jeff Bagwell while Williams was caught stealing. ===Yankee Stadium one-hitter=== Martínez again came close to a perfect game on September 10, 1999, when he beat the New York Yankees, 3–1.
(9 Strikeouts, 2 foul-ball, pop-fly outs.) ===Hitless clincher=== On October 11, 1999, in Game 5 of the ALDS, Charles Nagy started for Cleveland and Bret Saberhagen started for Boston, both on only three days rest.
Martínez struck out 12 Yankees in seven scoreless innings and allowing just two hits, to beat Red Sox nemesis Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees in Game 3, handing the World Champions their only loss of the 1999 postseason.
Martínez finished 1999 with a streak of 17 scoreless innings in the playoffs. ===Faceoff vs.
He won three Cy Young Awards (1997, 1999, 2000) and was runner-up twice (1998, 2002), posting a cumulative record of 118–36 (.766) with a 2.20 ERA, while leading his league in ERA five times and in winning percentage and strikeouts three times each.
However, this 1997 total is by far the highest in Martínez's career, as he only completed more than 5 games in one other season (7, in 2000).
if you get fresh with me or do something to show me up, I'll drill your ass. Between August 1999 and April 2000, Martínez had ten consecutive starts with 10 or more strikeouts.
Relying totally on his curve, Martínez and the Red Sox won the deciding game 12–8. In the American League Championship Series, Martínez pitched seven shutout innings to beat Red Sox nemesis Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees in Game 3, handing the World Champions their only loss of the 1999 postseason. ====2000–2004==== Following up 1999, Martínez had perhaps his best year in 2000.
Martínez received 2 runs or fewer of run support in 10 of his starts (over one-third of his starts), in which his ERA was a minuscule 1.25 with 4 complete games and 2 shutouts, but his win–loss record was 4–5. Martínez's WHIP in 2000 was 0.74, breaking both the 87-year-old modern Major League record set by Walter Johnson, as well as Guy Hecker's mark of 0.77 in 1882.
There were 138 such plate appearances against Martínez in 2000, in which opponents batted .133 with a .188 on-base percentage.
Martínez struck out 58 while walking six, and allowed 17 hits. On May 6 of that 2000 season, Martínez struck out 17 Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a 1–0 loss.
The 32 strikeouts tied Luis Tiant's 32-year American League record for most strikeouts over two games. In the span of 1999 and 2000, Martínez allowed 288 hits and 69 walks in 430 innings, with 597 strikeouts, an 0.83 WHIP, and a 1.90 ERA.
Roger Clemens on ESPN=== On May 28, 2000, Martínez and Roger Clemens had a dramatic duel on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" telecast.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases against a tiring Martínez, but New York could not score, as Martínez completed the shutout. ===Another close call=== On August 29, 2000, Martínez took a no-hitter into the 9th against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, losing it on a leadoff single by John Flaherty.
He won three Cy Young Awards (1997, 1999, 2000) and was runner-up twice (1998, 2002), posting a cumulative record of 118–36 (.766) with a 2.20 ERA, while leading his league in ERA five times and in winning percentage and strikeouts three times each.
Martínez finished with a 7–3 record, a 2.39 ERA, and 163 strikeouts, but only threw 116 innings. Healthy in 2002, he rebounded to lead the league with a 2.26 ERA, 0.923 WHIP and 239 strikeouts, while going 20–4.
Martínez became the first pitcher since the introduction of the Cy Young Award to lead his league in each of those four statistics, yet not win the award. Martínez's record was 14–4 in 2003.
Martínez came in third for the 2003 Cy Young Award, which went to Toronto's Roy Halladay. Martínez went 16–9 in 2004, despite an uncharacteristic 3.90 ERA, as the Red Sox won the American League wild-card berth.
His 130 pitches were the most he had thrown in a game since the ALDS in October 2003.
Zimmer=== In the testy Game 3 of the 2003 ALCS, after allowing single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings, Martínez hit Yankees right fielder Karim García near the shoulders with a pitch, sparking a shouting match between Martínez and the New York bench.
Martínez wrote in 2015 that the altercation with Zimmer was his only regret in his entire career. ===Grady Little's visit=== Martínez was also on the mound for Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS versus the Yankees.
Although his performance suffered a steep decline in 2004, Martínez ended the season memorably, by helping the Red Sox end a long drought in winning their first World Series title in 86 years. Officially listed at and , Martínez was unusually small for a modern-day power pitcher, and is believed to have been somewhat smaller than his officially listed height and weight.
Martínez came in third for the 2003 Cy Young Award, which went to Toronto's Roy Halladay. Martínez went 16–9 in 2004, despite an uncharacteristic 3.90 ERA, as the Red Sox won the American League wild-card berth.
Martínez finished his Red Sox career with a 117–37 record, the highest winning percentage any pitcher has had with any team in baseball history. ===New York Mets=== After Boston's World Series triumph in 2004, Martínez became a free agent and signed a 4-year, $53 million contract with the New York Mets.
The Yankees tied the score against Martínez in that inning on four successive hits, leading to a dramatic extra-inning, series-ending victory for New York, costing Grady Little his job with the Red Sox as his contract was not renewed. ===World Series debut=== After a comparatively lackluster season in 2004 (though still a solid season by general standards), Pedro Martínez got the win in Game 3 of the World Series.
In 2005, his first season as a Met, Martínez posted a 15–8 record with a 2.82 ERA, 208 strikeouts, and a league-leading 0.95 WHIP.
Louis Cardinals through seven innings, recording his final 14 outs consecutively in what would turn out to be his last game for Boston. ===Mets=== With the Mets, on April 10, 2005, at Turner Field, Martínez outdueled John Smoltz, pitching a two-hit, one-run, complete game en route to his first Mets victory.
On August 14, 2005, against the Dodgers, he pitched hitless innings, but ended up losing the no-hitter and the game. ===Return to Fenway=== In June 2006, the Mets played an interleague series against the Red Sox, which was Martínez's first appearance at Fenway Park since leaving the team.
Opponents batted .204 against him. Martínez started the 2006 season at the top of his game.
Martínez underwent surgery which sidelined him for most of the 2007 season. On November 3, 2006, Martínez stated that if he could not return to full strength, he might end up retiring after the 2007 season.
The pain I feel was one of the worst I have felt with any injury in my career." But by December 30, 2006, Martínez was more optimistic: "The progress has been excellent.
(The National League's Brad Penny matched the feat in 2006.) The next batter, Matt Williams, managed to reach first base from an error by Roberto Alomar.
On August 14, 2005, against the Dodgers, he pitched hitless innings, but ended up losing the no-hitter and the game. ===Return to Fenway=== In June 2006, the Mets played an interleague series against the Red Sox, which was Martínez's first appearance at Fenway Park since leaving the team.
In his June 28, 2006 start, Martínez lasted only 3 innings, and was rocked for 8 runs (6 earned) on 7 hits, losing his worst game as a Met just before going onto the disabled list.
Martínez underwent surgery which sidelined him for most of the 2007 season. On November 3, 2006, Martínez stated that if he could not return to full strength, he might end up retiring after the 2007 season.
You have to let it run its course." Martínez also reported bulking up as part of his recuperative regimen: "I've put on about 10 pounds of muscle, because that's one of our strategies." On September 3, 2007, Martínez returned from the disabled list with his 207th career win, allowing two earned runs in five efficient innings and collecting his 3000th career strikeout, becoming the 15th pitcher to do so.
Louis in the final week of the 2007 Mets' historic collapse; Martínez provided a good pitching performance (7 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 K) but his teammates failed to score. Martínez became just the fourth pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts with fewer than 1,000 walks (in Martínez's case, 701).
Martínez also joined Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson to become the third 3,000-strikeout pitcher to have more strikeouts than innings pitched, and is also the first Latin American pitcher to have 3,000 strikeouts. His unexpectedly strong finish in 2007 raised hopes, but 2008 was a lost season for Martínez.
Martínez also joined Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson to become the third 3,000-strikeout pitcher to have more strikeouts than innings pitched, and is also the first Latin American pitcher to have 3,000 strikeouts. His unexpectedly strong finish in 2007 raised hopes, but 2008 was a lost season for Martínez.
In March, he joined the Dominican Republic's squad for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, in an attempt to showcase his arm.
In July 2009, Phillies scouts evaluated Martínez in two simulated games against the Phillies DSL team, leading to a one-year, $1-million contract.
That would be a great feeling to have on a team, eh?" Replacing Jamie Moyer as a starter in the Phillies rotation on August 12, Martínez won his 2009 debut.
On December 4, 2011, he officially announced his retirement. In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named Martínez as one of the five pitchers in the starting rotation of its MLB All-Decade Team.
In 2009, Martínez stated that he regretted the incident but denied being at fault.
Media reports surfaced that the Phillies had been discussing a deal to bring Martínez back for another half-season, but Martínez's agent announced in July that he would not be pitching at all in 2010, while remaining interested in a 2011 return.
In December 2010, Martínez told a reporter for El Día "I'm realizing what it is to be a normal person.
Media reports surfaced that the Phillies had been discussing a deal to bring Martínez back for another half-season, but Martínez's agent announced in July that he would not be pitching at all in 2010, while remaining interested in a 2011 return.
but honestly I don't know if I'll definitively announce my retirement." The pitcher received some initial inquiries during the winter, but did not sign with any team for 2011.
On December 4, 2011, he officially announced his retirement. In December 2009, Sports Illustrated named Martínez as one of the five pitchers in the starting rotation of its MLB All-Decade Team.
In February 2011, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery announced that it had acquired an oil painting of Martínez for its collection. ===After retirement=== On January 24, 2013, Martínez joined the Boston Red Sox as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington. Martínez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2015 with 91.1% of the vote.
When asked about the result by WEEI-FM radio in January 2012, Martínez said, "I'm not afraid to say that the way that George King and Mr.
Newyork.mets.mlb.com (May 24, 2013).
Retrieved on December 21, 2013.
In February 2011, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery announced that it had acquired an oil painting of Martínez for its collection. ===After retirement=== On January 24, 2013, Martínez joined the Boston Red Sox as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington. Martínez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2015 with 91.1% of the vote.
He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 in his first year of eligibility, joining Juan Marichal as the second Dominican to be enshrined; his number (45) was retired by the Red Sox in a ceremony, two days after his Hall induction. ==Early life== Martínez grew up in the Dominican Republic in the Santo Domingo suburb of Manoguayabo.
In February 2011, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery announced that it had acquired an oil painting of Martínez for its collection. ===After retirement=== On January 24, 2013, Martínez joined the Boston Red Sox as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington. Martínez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2015 with 91.1% of the vote.
I'm grateful to all of the teams for which I played, and especially fans, for making this amazing honor come true." In 2015, Martínez was hired by the MLB Network as a studio analyst and also released an autobiography, Pedro, which he coauthored with Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
Reflecting on his career, he named Barry Bonds, Edgar Martínez, Derek Jeter, Kenny Lofton and Ichiro Suzuki as the most difficult hitters he had to face. On June 22, 2015, it was announced that Martínez' number 45 would be retired by the Red Sox on July 28, two days after his Hall of Fame induction.
Martínez wrote in 2015 that the altercation with Zimmer was his only regret in his entire career. ===Grady Little's visit=== Martínez was also on the mound for Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS versus the Yankees.
One of his sons, Pedro Martínez Jr., signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent in September 2017.
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