Pedro Martínez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pedro Martínez |
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Martínez in 2010
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: October 25, 1971 Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| September 24, 1992, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2009, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 219–100 | ||
| Earned run average | 2.93 | ||
| Strikeouts | 3,154 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2015 | ||
| Vote | 91.1% (first ballot) | ||
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a famous Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 to 2009. He is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox from 1998 to 2004.
Pedro Martínez was an amazing pitcher. He won 219 games and lost only 100. This makes his winning percentage one of the best in baseball history. He also had a very low earned run average (ERA) of 2.93, which shows how few runs opponents scored against him.
He was known for striking out many batters. He reached 3,000 strikeouts faster than almost any other pitcher. Many experts believe he is one of the greatest pitchers ever. He was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
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Growing Up in the Dominican Republic
Pedro Martínez grew up in Manoguayabo, a suburb of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He was one of six children. His family lived in a simple house made of palm wood with a tin roof and dirt floors.
His father worked many different jobs. His mother washed clothes for wealthy families. When Pedro was old enough, he worked as a mechanic.
Pedro loved baseball but did not have money for real baseballs. So, he practiced pitching with oranges! His older brother, Ramón Martínez, was also a pitcher. Ramón was at a baseball camp in the Dominican Republic. Young Pedro would carry his brother's bags at the camp.
One day, Ramón saw his 14-year-old brother pitch. He measured Pedro's pitches at 78 to 80 miles per hour. This was very fast for someone so young! Pedro started his professional baseball career in the Dominican Winter League in 1989.
Pedro's Amazing Baseball Career
Starting with the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Pedro Martínez in 1988. He started playing in the minor leagues. There, a coach named Guy Conti helped him learn a special pitch called a "circle changeup." This pitch became one of his best.
Pedro made his first MLB appearance on September 24, 1992. He pitched two innings for the Dodgers. His brother Ramón, who was a star pitcher for the Dodgers, even said Pedro was better than him.
However, the Dodgers' manager, Tommy Lasorda, thought Pedro was too small to be a starting pitcher. So, Pedro mostly pitched as a relief pitcher. In 1993, he had a great season, winning 10 games and striking out 119 batters. But the Dodgers needed a second baseman. So, they traded Pedro to the Montreal Expos in 1994.
Becoming a Star with the Expos
With the Montreal Expos, Pedro Martínez truly became one of baseball's top pitchers. His manager, Felipe Alou, helped him improve his fastball. This made his fastball even faster and harder to hit.
On June 3, 1995, Pedro pitched nine perfect innings against the San Diego Padres. This means no one reached base. But the game was still tied 0–0. In the 10th inning, he gave up a hit and was taken out of the game. He won the game, but it wasn't an official perfect game because it went into extra innings.
In 1997, Pedro had an incredible season. He won 17 games and had a very low ERA of 1.90. He also struck out 305 batters. He won the National League Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher. He was the first Expo to ever win this award.
Dominating with the Boston Red Sox
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| Pedro Martínez's number 45 was retired by the Boston Red Sox in 2015. |
In 1997, the Boston Red Sox traded for Pedro Martínez. They signed him to a huge contract, the biggest ever for a pitcher at that time. Pedro immediately showed he was worth it.
In 1999, he had one of the best seasons ever for a pitcher. He won 23 games and lost only 4. His ERA was an amazing 2.07, and he struck out 313 batters. He won the "Pitching Triple Crown" by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He also won his second Cy Young Award.
Pedro was so good that he was named the American League Pitcher of the Month four times in 1999. He also shined in the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park, the Red Sox home field. He struck out the first four batters he faced, which was a first in All-Star Game history!
In the 1999 playoffs, Pedro was a hero. In a key game against the Cleveland Indians, he came in as a relief pitcher even though he was injured. He pitched six innings without giving up any hits, helping the Red Sox win the game and the series.
He continued his amazing performance in 2000, winning his third Cy Young Award. His ERA was an incredible 1.74, the lowest in the American League since 1978. He struck out 284 batters and walked only 32. This shows how much control he had over his pitches. During this time, many batters were very strong, but Pedro still dominated.
Pedro had some injuries in 2001, but he bounced back in 2002, winning 20 games. In 2004, even with a higher ERA, he won 16 games. That year, he helped the Red Sox win the World Series, their first championship in 86 years! It was a huge moment for the team and their fans.
Pedro finished his Red Sox career with a fantastic record of 117 wins and 37 losses. He was one of the most important players in Red Sox history.
Playing for the Mets
After the 2004 World Series, Pedro Martínez signed with the New York Mets. In 2005, his first year with the Mets, he had a great season. He won 15 games with a 2.82 ERA and struck out 208 batters.
In 2006, he started strong, but injuries began to affect him. He had hip, calf, and shoulder injuries that kept him off the field. He even had surgery on his shoulder.
On September 3, 2007, Pedro returned from his injuries. He earned his 207th career win and, even more special, recorded his 3,000th career strikeout! He became only the 15th pitcher in history to reach this milestone. He was also the first Latin American pitcher to achieve 3,000 strikeouts.
His 2008 season was tough due to more injuries. He finished with a losing record for the first time in his career.
Finishing with the Phillies
Pedro Martínez did not sign with a team at the start of 2009. But in July, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him. He made his debut with the Phillies on August 12, 2009, and won his first game.
On September 3, he earned his 100th win in the National League. This made him one of only 10 pitchers to win at least 100 games in both the American and National Leagues.
Pedro pitched well in the 2009 playoffs, helping the Phillies reach the 2009 World Series. He pitched in two World Series games against the New York Yankees. Even though the Phillies lost the series, Pedro showed he could still pitch at the highest level.
After the 2009 season, Pedro did not play again. He officially announced his retirement from baseball on December 4, 2011.
Life After Baseball
After retiring, Pedro Martínez continued to be involved in baseball. In 2013, he joined the Boston Red Sox as a special assistant to the general manager.
In January 2015, Pedro was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was chosen in his very first year of eligibility, which shows how highly he was regarded. His Hall of Fame plaque shows him wearing a Boston Red Sox cap.
Pedro also works as a baseball analyst for TV networks like MLB Network. In 2015, he released his autobiography called Pedro. He has said that some of the toughest batters he faced were Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter. Many other All-Stars have also said Pedro was the toughest pitcher they ever faced.
On July 28, 2015, the Boston Red Sox retired his number 45. This means no other Red Sox player will ever wear that number again, honoring Pedro's amazing career with the team. In 2018, he was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Memorable Games and Moments
Almost a Perfect Game
On April 13, 1994, Pedro Martínez was pitching a perfect game for the Montreal Expos. This means no batter had reached base. But in the eighth inning, he hit a batter with a pitch. The batter, Reggie Sanders, got angry and charged the mound, starting a fight. Pedro ended up losing the perfect game and the no-hitter in the ninth inning.
Nine Perfect Innings (But Not Official)
On June 3, 1995, Pedro pitched nine perfect innings against the San Diego Padres. He got every batter out. But the score was still 0–0, so the game went into extra innings. In the 10th inning, he gave up a hit. Because the game went past nine innings and he gave up a hit, it's not officially counted as a perfect game or a no-hitter.
All-Star Strikeout Show
At the 1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Boston, Pedro was the starting pitcher. He struck out the first four batters he faced in a row! This was a first for an All-Star Game. He was named the All-Star Game MVP for his amazing performance.
Yankee Stadium Masterpiece
On September 10, 1999, Pedro pitched an incredible game against the New York Yankees. He struck out 17 batters and walked none. He only gave up one hit, a solo home run. Many people called it one of the best games ever pitched at Yankee Stadium.
Playoff Heroics
In the 1999 playoffs, Pedro came into a crucial game against the Cleveland Indians when he was injured. He pitched six innings without giving up any hits, helping the Red Sox win the series. Later, in the American League Championship Series, he pitched seven scoreless innings against the New York Yankees, striking out 12 batters.
The "Who's Your Daddy?" Chant
During the 2004 playoffs and the 2009 World Series, New York Yankees fans would chant "Who's your daddy?" at Pedro. This was because Pedro had once said, "I mean what can I say? Just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy," after a tough loss to them.
Pedro's Pitching Style
Pedro Martínez was known for his amazing pitches and control. He threw a very fast fastball, a powerful curveball, and a tricky circle changeup. He threw from a low angle, which made it hard for batters to see the ball coming.
Early in his career, his fastball was super fast, often reaching 95–98 miles per hour. He used this speed with his great changeup to dominate batters. Many baseball experts say that no pitcher in history was more overwhelming than Pedro when he was at his best.
As he got older and dealt with injuries, his fastball wasn't as fast. But he learned to rely more on his control and clever pitching. He still used his curveball and changeup very well. He was able to trick batters and get them to strike out, even with less speed.
Pedro's Family Life
Pedro is married to Carolina Cruz de Martínez. She runs his charity, the Pedro Martínez and Brothers Foundation. They have four children. One of his sons, Pedro Martínez Jr., is also a baseball player. Pedro became an American citizen in 2006.
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See also
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning
