Dennis Martínez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dennis Martínez |
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Martínez in 1983
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 14, 1955 Granada, Nicaragua |
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| debut | |||
| September 14, 1976, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1998, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 245–193 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.70 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,149 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2016 | ||
José Dennis Martínez Ortiz, born on May 14, 1955, is a famous former baseball pitcher from Nicaragua. People often called him "El Presidente", which means "The President". He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many teams from 1976 to 1998. These teams included the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves.
Martínez made history in 1991 when he pitched a perfect game. This is a very rare achievement in baseball. He was also chosen to be an MLB All-Star four times. He was the very first player from Nicaragua to play in the major leagues, which is a big deal for his home country.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Dennis Martínez was born in Granada, Nicaragua. He was the youngest of seven children in a family that wasn't very rich. He helped his parents on their farm, where they grew food for the family.
A scout from the Baltimore Orioles saw his talent. On December 10, 1973, Martínez signed with the Orioles for $3,000. Before joining the major leagues, he spent three years playing for different minor league teams. He showed great promise, winning many games and having a low earned run average (ERA).
Playing Career Highlights
Baltimore Orioles (1976–1986)
Martínez made his first MLB appearance on September 14, 1976, for the Baltimore Orioles. He came into a game when his team was losing. He pitched very well, not allowing any runs, and the Orioles came back to win. This gave him his first career victory.
In the following years, Martínez became an important pitcher for the Orioles. In 1978, he won 16 games. He pitched many innings and completed many games by himself. He was one of the top pitchers in the American League.
In 1979, he pitched even more innings than ever before. He also made his first appearance in the postseason, helping the Orioles in the playoffs. In 1981, he had a great season, winning 14 games and having a good ERA. He even received votes for the Cy Young Award, which goes to the best pitcher.
Martínez was chosen to pitch on Opening Day for the Orioles in 1982 and 1983. On June 5, 1985, he reached a big milestone: his 100th career win. He pitched a complete game, allowing no runs and only one hit. In 1986, after 11 seasons with the Orioles, he was traded to the Montreal Expos.
Montreal Expos (1986–1993)
After a tough start with the Expos, Martínez worked hard to get back on track. He signed a new contract and returned to the team in June 1987. He quickly showed his skill, winning 11 games that season.
In 1988, Martínez was the Opening Day pitcher for the Expos. He continued to pitch well, winning 15 games and having a low ERA. He was among the best pitchers in the National League. At the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, they even sold a special hot dog called the "Denny Dog" in his honor!
In 1990, he was selected for his first All-Star Game. He pitched a perfect inning against some of the best hitters in baseball.
The Perfect Game (1991)
The year 1991 was amazing for Dennis Martínez. He was the Opening Day starter for the fourth year in a row. He had a career-low ERA of 2.39 and pitched five shutouts. He was also selected for the All-Star Game again.
Then, on July 28, 1991, Martínez made history. He pitched the 13th perfect game in Major League Baseball history against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This means he pitched an entire game without any opposing player reaching base. He was the first pitcher born in Latin America to achieve this incredible feat.
In 1992, Martínez continued his strong performance. He won 16 games and had another low ERA. He was selected for his third straight All-Star Game. He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month in August.
His final season with the Expos was 1993. On June 18, he earned his 200th career win. He also became one of only a few pitchers to win at least 100 games in both the American League and the National League.
Cleveland Indians (1994–1996)
After leaving the Expos, Martínez signed with the Cleveland Indians. He was the Opening Day pitcher for the Indians in 1994, which was also the first regular season game at their new stadium, Jacobs Field. He continued to pitch well, winning 11 games in the shortened season.
In 1995, he maintained his consistent performance, winning 12 games. He also pitched in the postseason for the first time since 1979. He helped the Indians reach the World Series, winning a key game in the American League Championship Series.
In 1996, at 42 years old, he was the oldest player in the American League. He made his third straight Opening Day start for the Indians.
Later Career and Retirement (1997–1998)
Martínez played for the Seattle Mariners in 1997. He then finished his career with the Atlanta Braves in 1998. Even in his final season, he pitched in 53 games and helped the Braves in the postseason.
After the 1998 season, Dennis Martínez decided to retire. He felt he had achieved everything he wanted in his career. He retired with 245 wins, which was the most by any Latin American pitcher at the time. This record was later broken by Bartolo Colón in 2018.
Martínez is one of only 17 pitchers in MLB history to start on Opening Day more than 10 times. He also holds a unique record: he has the most career wins (245) of any pitcher who never won 20 games in a single season.
Post-Playing Career
After retiring from playing, Dennis Martínez remained involved in baseball.
- In 2002, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.
- He has worked as a coach for teams like the Baltimore Orioles and the Houston Astros.
- Martínez also managed the Nicaragua national baseball team, including during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
- The national baseball stadium in Managua, Nicaragua's capital city, is named the Dennis Martínez National Stadium in his honor.
- He runs his own organization, The Dennis Martínez Foundation, which helps children around the world.
- In 2016, Martínez was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Highlights and Achievements
- 4-time All-Star (1990–1992, 1995)
- Led the league in wins in 1981
- Led the league in ERA (Earned Run Average) in 1991
- Led the league in shutouts in 1991
- Pitched the 13th perfect game in baseball history on July 28, 1991, with the Montreal Expos.
- Set the record for most wins by a Latin American pitcher (244 wins) on August 9, 1998.
Images for kids
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Martínez in 1983
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Martínez in 1977
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Martínez para niños
- Pitchers who have thrown a perfect game
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of players from Nicaragua in Major League Baseball
