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2. Edgar Martinez

2. Edgar Martinez
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: January 2, 1963 in New York, NY USA
  • Weight: 175 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 12, 1987
  • Final Game: October 03, 2004
  • Silver Slugger - 1992
  • TSN All-Star - 1992
  • Silver Slugger - 1995
  • TSN All-Star - 1995
  • Silver Slugger - 1997
  • TSN All-Star - 1997
  • Silver Slugger - 2001
  • TSN All-Star - 2001
  • Silver Slugger - 2003
  • Roberto Clemente Award - 2004
  • MVP - 1992
  • MVP - 1995
  • MVP - 1997
  • MVP - 2000
  • MVP - 2001
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
1442624384494618252298 0.312
 

We almost put him number one, and would there not be a lot of logic for us to do so?

We can go to our grave jumping up and down that Ken Griffey Jr. is the better baseball player, and since his prime (which was a long one) was exclusively in Seattle, placing “Junior” at the top makes sense.

But was anyone more loyal and productive for a longer period of time as a Seattle Mariner than Edgar Martinez?

Nope. 

This was really close.

Moving on, Edgar Martinez would play his entire 18-year career in Seattle.  He signed with the club as an Amateur Free Agent in 1982 and would debut with the big club in 1987.  The first few seasons were unspectacular for Martinez, as he bounced back and forth from Seattle to Triple A, but it all changed in 1991 when he would become the starting Third Baseman.  Martinez batted .302 that year with 11 Home Runs, and anyone who can hit .300 over a full season will likely secure a spot for some time in the Majors.

Martinez batted in .307 in 1991 but would win the American League Batting Title with a .343 average, while also leading the league in Doubles (46) and capturing his first Silver Slugger in the year that followed.  Injuries reduced him to 131 Games in 1993 and 1994 combined, and he would return healthy in 1995, but now as Seattle’s Designated Hitter, a role he held until he retired in 2004. 

As the Mariners’ DH, he went to six All-Star Games, won four Silver Sluggers, won the 1995 Batting Title and won three On Base Percentage Titles. 

Martinez retired after the 2004 season, and he was widely regarded as the greatest Designated Hitter in the history of the game.  We don’t say this flippantly.  The award for the Designated Hitter of the Year was renamed the Edgar Martinez Award in his honor.  Ironically (we think it is ironic), this award would take his namesake before the Baseball Hall of Fame would induct him.  He would finally enter Cooperstown in 2019, his final year of eligibility.  The team had already retired his number 11 in 2017, and ten years previous, he was inducted to the Mariners Hall of Fame.

Martinez is the Mariners’ all-time leader in Games Played (2,055), Total Bases (3,718), Doubles (514), Runs Batted In (1,261), Walks (1,283) and Win Probability Added (44.3).  He would also have 309 Home Runs with a Slash Line of .312/.418/.515, making a member of the elusive career 3/4/5 club.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Third Base, Designated Hitter
  • Acquired: Signed as an Amateur Free Agent 12/19/82.
  • Departed: Retired after the 2004 Season.
  • Games Played: 2055
  • Notable Statistics: 1,219 Runs Scored
    2,247 Hits
    514 Doubles
    15 Triples
    309 Home Runs
    1,261 Runs Batted In
    49 Stolen Bases
    .292/.374/.553 Slash Line
    68.4 bWAR

    34 Playoff Games
    16 Runs Scored
    34 Hits
    7 Doubles
    0 Triples
    8 Home Runs
    24 Runs Batted In
    2 Stolen Bases
    .266/.364/.508 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 & 2003)
    Silver Slugger (1992, 1995, 1997, 2001 & 2003)
    Edgar Martinez Award (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 & 2001)
    Roberto Clemente Award (2004)
    Highest Batting Average (1992 & 1995)
    Highest On Base Percentage (1995, 1998 & 1999)
    Highest OPS (1996)
    Most Runs Scored (1995)
    Most Doubles (1992 & 1995)
    Most Runs Batted In (1995)
    Highest OPS+ (1995)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1995 & 1996)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1995 & 1996)

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