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152. Dennis Martinez

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152. Dennis Martinez
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: May 14, 1954 in Granada, Gr Nicaragua
  • Weight: 160 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 14, 1976
  • Final Game: September 27, 1998
  • Cy Young - 1981
  • Cy Young - 1991
  • MVP - 1981
 
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2451934.0269256283,999.72149
 

Historically speaking, one of the most important Pitchers in Latin America is Dennis Martinez, and he was also one of the most tenured.

Martinez broke in with the Baltimore Orioles in 1976, and he became the first player from Nicaragua to make the Majors.  The righthander did well, earning a place in the starting rotation and had five 14-win seasons for the O's, including a league-leading 14 in the strike-shortened 1981 season.  Martinez finished fifth in Cy Young voting that year, but he had an awful 1983, with an ERA well over five.  He was left off of the postseason roster, and the Orioles won the World Series. Martinez continued to struggle, and it was learned that he was a heavy drinker, and alcoholism threatened to end his career early.

The Nicaraguan got clean, but he didn't time to focus on both pitching and sobriety, and a change of scenery in the form of a 1986 trade to Montreal was just the tonic he needed.  With the Expos, Martinez went to three All-Star Games, won the ERA Title in 1991 (2.39), and had five top-ten finished in bWAR for Pitchers.  

At age 40, Martinez signed with the Cleveland Indians to have another All-Star year amongst the three he played in Ohio.  He carved out two more years, one with Seattle and one with Atlanta, and Martinez retired with 245 Wins, which at the time placed him first among all Hispanic Pitchers. 

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Granada, Nicaragua
  • Eligible In: Thursday, 01 January 2004
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Played For: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Rings (1) (Baltimore Orioles, 1983) 
    All-Star (1990, 1991, 1992 & 1993)
    Lowest ERA (2) (NL) (1991) 
    Most Wins (1) (AL) (1981)
    Most Innings Pitched (1) (AL) (1979)
    Most Games Started (1) (AL) (1979)
    Most Complete Games (2) (AL) (1979) (NL) (1991)
    Most Shutouts (1) (NL) (1991)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1) (NL) 1991)
    Most Putouts by a Pitcher (1) (AL) (1981)
    Most Assists by a Pitcher (3) (AL) (1978, 1981 & 1995)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Pitcher (3) (AL) (1978) (NL) (1989 & 1991)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Pitcher (1) (AL) (1994)

  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten Cy Young Finishes:
    (AL: 1981, 5th) & (NL: 1991, 5th)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Pitchers)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (ERA)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Wins)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (WHIP)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (H/9)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (BB/9)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Innings Pitched)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Strikeouts)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Games Started)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Complete Games)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Shutouts) 
    2 Top Ten Finishes (SO/BB)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (ERA+)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (FIP)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)

  • Notable All Time Rankings: 15.   Double Plays Turned by a Pitcher: 61
    16.   Putouts by a Pitcher: 319

    26.   Games Started: 562
    41.   Innings Pitched: 3,997.2
    55.   Wins: 245
    67.   Assists by a Pitcher: 763
    73.   Strikeouts: 2,149

  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    2004: 3.2%

  • Should be Inducted As A: Montreal Expo

Should Dennis Martinez be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 80%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 20%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%

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