Dennis Martinez
Dennis Martinez won more games than any other Latin American pitcher, and became a legend in his native Nicaragua. Despite having less than 100 wins by the time he was 30 years old, Martinez pitched for 23 seasons, winning 26 games after the age of forty. On July 28, 1991, he tossed the 13th perfect game in major league history. He retired with 245 victories, including more than 100 in each league.
Played For
Baltimore Orioles (1976-1986)
Montreal Expos (1986-1993)
Cleveland Indians (1994-1996)
Seattle Mariners (1997)
Atlanta Braves (1998)
Best Season: 1991
He should have won a few more games than the 14 he received credit for, but he failed to get run support from his teammates. Martinez posted a 2.39 ERA, nine complete games, five shutouts, and allowed just nine homers in more than 220 innings.
Scouting Report
"Has an explosive fastball that is clocked at 88-90 MPH, a sharp curve, a fast slider and an excellent change-up." — from the 1984 Scouting Report
Where He Played
Pitcher, reliever at first, and then starter.
Born
Jose Dennis (Emilia) Martinez was born on May 14, 1955, in Granada
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: BAL
Major League Debut
September 14, 1976 ... Martinez pitched the last 5 2/3 innings in relief and got the victory in a 9-7 Orioles' win over the Tigers in Baltimore. The first three batters he faced: Mickey Stanley, Bill Freehan, and Chuck Scrivener, all struck out. Rusty Staub collected the first hit off Martinez.
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1976
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Willie Wilson
Garry Templeton
Dennis Martinez
Bruce Sutter
Rick Sutcliffe
Joaquin Andujar
Mark Fidrych
Nicknames
El Presidente
Folks really believe that Martinez could be elected President of Nicaragua, if he chose to run. The largest baseball stadium in the country, in the capital city of Managua, is named for him.
Uniform Numbers
#61 (1976), #30 (1977-1986 Orioles), #32 (1986-1998)
Similar Players
Jerry Reuss, Doyle Alexander
Related Players
Martinez broke Juan Marichal's record for most wins by a Latin American pitcher. Marichal had won 243 games.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 2004 |
BBWAA |
16 |
3.2% |
|
No-Hitter
7/28/1991: For MON (N) vs. LA (N), 2-0 at LA. 9 innings pitched.
Post-Season Appearances
1979 American League Championship Series
1995 American League Divisional Series
1995 World Series
1998 National League Championship Series
Post-Season Notes
Martinez was the last of five pitchers that Earl Weaver used in the top of the ninth inning of Game Seven of the 1979 World Series. The Pirates still won, 4-1.
Feats
Martinez became the 13th pitcher to hurl a perfect game, on July 28, 1991, for the Montreal Expos against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martinez struck out five batters in the masterpiece... On September 28, 1993, Martinez won his 100th game for the Expos, giving him at least 100 wins in both the American and National Leagues. Others to do that are Cy Young, Al Orth, Jim Bunning, Ferguson Jenkins, Nolan Ryan, and Gaylord Perry.
Milestones
On June 18, 1993, Martinez won his 200th game, a 2-1 defeat of the Atlanta Braves.
Milestones
- June 18, 1993: 200th Win...
Transactions
December 10, 1973: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent; June 16, 1986: Traded by the Baltimore Orioles with a player to be named later to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later. The Baltimore Orioles sent John Stefero (December 8, 1986) to the Montreal Expos to complete the trade. The Montreal Expos sent Rene Gonzales (December 16, 1986) to the Baltimore Orioles to complete the trade; November 12, 1986: Granted Free Agency; May 6, 1987: Signed as a Free Agent with the Montreal Expos; November 9, 1987: Granted Free Agency; December 18, 1987: Signed as a Free Agent with the Montreal Expos; October 25, 1993: Granted Free Agency; December 2, 1993: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians; November 18, 1996: Granted Free Agency; February 20, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Seattle Mariners; May 24, 1997: Released by the Seattle Mariners; January 30, 1998: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves; November 2, 1998: Granted Free Agency.
The Expos had agreed to deal Martinez to the Atlanta Braves for the stretch-run in 1993, but the pitcher vetoed the deal. Instead, he remained with Montreal and won four of his last five decisions. In the off-season he signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians.
Matchup Data
Martinez was 19-6 with a 2.37 ERA in games he pitched in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.
All-Star Selections
1990 NL
1991 NL
1992 NL
1995 AL
Replaced
Martinez and Scott McGregor both joined the Orioles starting rotation in 1978, in place of Rudy May and Ross Grimsley, both of whom had went to Montreal, one in a trade, the other via free agency.
Replaced By
Martinez was replaced by Bartolo Colon and Jaret Wright on the Indians' rotation in 1997. He was given nine starts with the M's in 1997, but didn't stick, and in 1998 with the Braves he was primarily a reliever.
Best Strength as a Player
Guts, and a sinking fastball.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Lack of opportunity, but that wasn;t his fault early in his career.
Learn More about Dennis Martinez
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