Dennis Martínez

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José Dennis Martínez Emilia (born May 14, 1955 in Granada, Nicaragua), better known as Dennis Martínez, was the first baseball player from Nicaragua to play in Major League Baseball. During his career, he was known by the nickname El Presidente (The President).

A right-handed starting pitcher, Martínez played for the Baltimore Orioles (1976-86), Montreal Expos (1986-93), Cleveland Indians (1994-96), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998).

In his 23-year career, Martínez had a 245-193 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 the one of the top Latin American pitchers of all-time. On July 28, 1991, he pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history. He currently serves as the pitching coach for the Cardinals. ^[1]

Contents 1 Highlights 2 Facts 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Highlights

• 4-time All-Star (1990-92, 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, 1994-96)
• Led league in games started, innings pitched and batters faced (1979)
• 9-time pitched 220 or more innings in a season (1978-79, 1982, 1988-93)
• 3-time oldest player in the majors (1996-98)
• 50th in 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)

[edit] Facts

• 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.

• The national baseball park in Managua (Nicaragua's capital city), Dennis Martínez National Stadium, was named in his honor.

• 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.

• Is the one of the winning pitchers in MLB history to never have a 20-Win Season - indeed, he never won more than 16 games in a season during his career.

• Has worked as a spring training instructor for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 and 2006. ^[2]

Preceded by Tom Browning

Perfect game pitcher July 28, 1991

Succeeded by Kenny Rogers

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Perfect game
• Players from Nicaragua in MLB

[edit] External links

• Dennis Martínez at:
  • Baseball Library
  • Baseball Page
  • Baseball Reference