Dennis Martínez
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| Dennis Martínez | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | ||
| Born: May 14, 1955 Granada, Nicaragua |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| September 14, 1976 for the Baltimore Orioles |
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| Final game | ||
| September 27, 1998 for the Atlanta Braves |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Win-Loss record | 245-193 | |
| Earned run average | 3.70 | |
| Strikeouts | 2,149 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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José Dennis Martínez Ortiz (born May 14, 1955 in Granada, Nicaragua), better known as Dennis Martínez, was the first Nicaraguan baseball player to play in Major League Baseball. During his career, he was known by the nickname El Presidente (The President).[1]
A right-handed starting pitcher, Martínez played for the Baltimore Orioles (1976-1986), Montreal Expos (1986-1993), Cleveland Indians (1994-1996), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998).
In his 23-year career, Martínez had a 245-193 won-loss record with 2149 strikeouts, a 3.70 ERA, 30 shutouts, 122 complete games, four saves, and 3999 2/3 innings pitched in 692 games played (562 as starter). He is one of the top Latin American pitchers of all-time. On July 28, 1991, he became the first Latin-born pitcher to throw a perfect game, the 13th in major league history, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[2]
On September 28, 1993, Martinez won his 100th game for the Expos, becoming one of nine major league pitchers ever with at least 100 wins in both the American and National leagues. Others to do that are Jim Bunning, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Orth, Gaylord Perry, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan and Cy Young. On September 28, 1995, Martínez was the last man to pitch to the late Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett in a regular-season game. A wild pitch by Martínez broke Puckett's jaw; the following spring during Grapefruit League spring training, Puckett developed glaucoma in his right eye and never played again. It was determined by team doctors that his broken jaw had no impact on his glaucoma. In fact, the pitch hit the left side of Puckett's face while the glaucoma was in Puckett's right eye.
In his post-playing career, Martinez has worked as a spring training instructor for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 and 2006[3], and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Palm Beach Cardinals.[4]
The national baseball park in Managua (Nicaragua's capital city), Dennis Martínez National Stadium, was named in his honor.
Martinez runs his own organization, The Dennis Martinez Foundation, to help poor children around the world.
Contents |
[edit] Highlights
- 4-time All-Star (1990-1992, 1995)
- Twice Top 10 Cy Young Award (1981, 1991)
- Led league in wins (1981)
- Led league in ERA (1991)
- Led league in shutouts (1991)
- 6-time Top 10 in shutouts (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994-1996)
- Led league in games started, innings pitched and batters faced (1979)
- 9-time pitched 220 or more innings in a season (1978-1979, 1982, 1988-1993)
- 3-time oldest player in the majors (1996-1998)
- 52nd on the strikeouts all-time list
- Set record for most wins by a Latin American pitcher (244 - August 9, 1998)
- Pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history (July 28, 1991), the last in the history of the organization that is now the Washington Nationals [1]
[edit] References
- ^ Washburn, Gary. "'El Presidente' happy in new job", Major League Baseball. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ "Baseball's Perfect Games: Dennis Martinez, Montreal Expos", The BASEBALL Page.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
- ^ baltimore.orioles.mlb.com Martinez sharing his knowledge
- ^ stltoday.com Rookie coach Dennis Martinez pitches in
[edit] See also
- Pitchers who have thrown a perfect game
- Players from Nicaragua in MLB
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen List
- Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all time
- Montreal Expos all-time roster
[edit] External links
- Dennis Martínez at:
| Preceded by Steve Stone |
American League Wins Champion 1981 (with Steve McCatty, Jack Morris & Pete Vukovich) |
Succeeded by LaMarr Hoyt |
| Preceded by Tom Browning |
Perfect game pitcher July 28, 1991 |
Succeeded by Kenny Rogers |
| Preceded by Danny Darwin |
National League ERA Champion 1991 |
Succeeded by Bill Swift |
