Cooperstown Chronicles – Edgar Martinez
Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI
Edgar Martinez was suggested by Oregon Tailgater, a friend of mine from Sporting News. Here are my findings.
The Numbers
2055 Games
7213 At Bats
.312 Batting Average (91st All-time)
.418 On-base % (22nd All-time)
.515 Slugging % (67th All-time)
.933 OPS (36th All-time)
1219 Runs
2247 Hits
514 Doubles (37th All-time)
15 Triples
309 HR
1261 RBI
1283 Walks (38th All-time)
838 Extra Base Hits (74th All-time)
3718 Total Bases
Playoffs: 34 Games, 34 hits in 128 At Bats, 16 Runs, 7 Doubles, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 Walks
Awards
2004 Roberto Clemente Award
5 Silver Sluggers
7 All-Star Appearances
MVP Votes in 5 Seasons
Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average – Seven times (Batting Crowns in 1992 & 1995)
On-Base % – 11 times (Led league in ’95, ’98 & ’99)
Slugging % – Six times
OPS – Eight times (Led leage in 1995)
Runs – Three times (Led league in 1995)
Hits – Three times
Doubles – Five times (Led league in 1992 & 1995)
Home Runs – Once
RBI – Three times (Led league in 1995)
Walks - Eight times
Extra Base Hits – Four times
Intentional Walks – Four times
Total Bases – Four times
Games – Once (Led league in 1995)
There is some debate as to whether or not Edgar should go in the hall because he played roughly 75% of the time as a DH. Well, I’ve known DHs all my life and I’ve always been a bigger fan of the American League so I don’t have a problem with DHs as MVPs (David Ortiz) or Hall of Famers. I know what you’re thinking, I shot down Harold Baines. Well, Harold Baines was good, not great. He didn’t have five 100+ run seasons, five 40+ double seasons (or two 50+), six 100+ RBI seasons, or ten .300 or better years. He didn’t do all of that, but Edgar Martinez did. He was easily one of the best pure hitters of his era. Just like the closer, the DH is a position. Just because it wasn’t always around doesn’t mean that we have to ignore it. If it’s a position then the very best to play that postion are Hall of Fame eligible. Edgar was one of the very best. I would have liked to see him get a few more hits (2400 would have been nice), but I’m not holding that against him. If the Hall of Fame people came knocking, I would tell them to let Edgar in.
References
Baseball Reference
Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Luis
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm #
As much as like Edgar, i think he falls a bit short. Not enough hits, and i’m sure the fact he played 75% as a DH will be held against him (sad but true, i totally agree with you though, if its a position than all players should be considered… including DH’s). Had his body not fallen apart and he played an extra two seasons he probably would have been a lock.
Ryan Lester
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm #
Great points Luis. To me it’s that great batting average over such a long stretch. Lot of hits. Ton of doubles. Maybe he’s a little short, but what the heck you’ve got to let a DH in eventually. Why not Edgar?
Oregon Tailgater
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm #
Great job. I think that Edgar is the most deserving of the “pure” DH’s to play the game. PLUS, he played his whole career with the Mariners.
Great work.
Larry Novak
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm #
To me Edgar is a slam dunk. The DH is part of the game and Edgar was dominint as a DH.
Ryan Lester
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm #
Oregon – Well, he did play some 3rd base, but he sure was a professional hitter. To me, what’s the difference if you don’t play D or you play bad D? There have been plenty of MVPs that weren’t good fielders.
Larry – agree
Ryan
May 27th, 2008 at 10:28 am #
Edgar is arguablly the best DH in baseball history. He is one of the best hitters to play baseball as well. I dont think there are many other players that can hit right around .300 when they are 40 years old.
LestersLegends
May 27th, 2008 at 12:24 pm #
Totally agree. Edgar was a hitting machine.
Ryan
May 27th, 2008 at 10:07 pm #
Edgar definately deserves a spot in cooperstown there are guys in there who have a .267 career batting average and less HRs. granted they played in the field. EDGAR IS FILTHY!!!! WHOOP WHOOP!!!
LestersLegends
May 28th, 2008 at 7:00 am #
Ryan – There are a whole lot of ways to get to the Hall. I think Edgar’s hitting was his way, and he’s worthy.
Ryan
May 28th, 2008 at 9:47 am #
i understnd that. thats why im saying that he should go. because there are other guys you got in there because of their fielding not their hitting and edgar is just the opposite.
LestersLegends
May 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am #
Ryan – I’m with you. I feel he should be in as well.
Cooperstown Chronicles - Stan Coveleski :: Elites TV
May 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm #
[...] Fred Lynn Sherry Magee Roger Maris Rube Marquard* Billy Martin (Player/Manager) Dennis Martinez Edgar Martinez Bobby Matthews Don Mattingly Gene Mauch (Manager) Carl Mays Bill Mazeroski* Fred McGriff Mark [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Kiki Cuyler | Fantasy Sports Blog
May 28th, 2009 at 7:51 am #
[...] Fred Lynn Sherry Magee Roger Maris Rube Marquard* Billy Martin (Player/Manager) Dennis Martinez Edgar Martinez Bobby Matthews Don Mattingly Gene Mauch (Manager) Carl Mays Bill Mazeroski* Fred McGriff Mark [...]
Cooperstown Chronicles - Kiki Cuyler | 1800blogger
May 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am #
[...] Fred Lynn Sherry Magee Roger Maris Rube Marquard* Billy Martin (Player/Manager) Dennis Martinez Edgar Martinez Bobby Matthews Don Mattingly Gene Mauch (Manager) Carl Mays Bill Mazeroski* Fred McGriff Mark [...]
erik
August 6th, 2009 at 10:04 pm #
no way should he get in. a DH in the steroid era. maybe you should rethink this one. a DH in the steroid era should never get in. i dont even want frank thomas or thome in. fat, slow dudes that cant play D and never won anything. we have to put so many guys in before he could even be considered. are we gonna put palmerio in to? all the old school guys deserve it way before this slow DH. I believe if the player only stuck around because of the DH they shouldnt get in. If Bonds or Ken Griffey were career DH’S they would have hit 900 homers
LestersLegends
August 6th, 2009 at 10:10 pm #
Edgar could flat out hit. It’s a position in the game now, and he was one of the very best.
once they start letting in the steroids guys, which I think eventually they will, palmeiro does belong.
should mike schmidt and the players of his era be taken out of the HOF for taking greenies? If the players of that era would take illegal drugs as a pick me up, who’s to say they wouldn’t have used steroids had they been available to them. They already showed that they would cheat.
erik
August 8th, 2009 at 12:28 am #
he was a DH in the steroid era. he didnt even have 2500 hits or 350 HR’s. steroids are way better than greenies. A full time DH in the hall of fame should have way more HR’s and hits. this guy isnt a hall of famer. albert belle deserves to get in if this guy is in
erik
August 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm #
did u change your mind on this guy yet?
LestersLegends
August 9th, 2009 at 8:39 pm #
Not at all.