Tippy Martinez

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Felix Anthony (Tippy) Martinez (born May 31, 1950 in La Junta, Colorado), is a former left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher from 1974 to 1988. Most of his career (1976-1986) was spent with the Baltimore Orioles, where he is still remembered as one of the team's most popular players. He resides in Baltimore, Maryland and often attends signings.

Martinez also played for the New York Yankees (1974-76), and Minnesota Twins (1988). He posted a lifetime win-loss record of 55-42 with an ERA of 3.45.

Martinez may be best known for picking off three Toronto Blue Jays off first base in one inning during an August 24, 1983 game at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. The Orioles, having replaced both their starting catcher and his backup while rallying to tie the game in the ninth inning, entered the tenth with reserve infielder Lenn Sakata in the game at catcher. Three consecutive Blue Jays hitters reached first base and each one, thinking it would be easy to steal a base on Sakata, took a big lead. Martinez picked off all three baserunners and then became the winning pitcher when the Orioles won the game on Sakata's home run in the bottom of the tenth.

In December 2006, Martinez became the pitching coach of the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

His daughter, Courtney, coaches women's lacrosse at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

[edit] See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference
• Newspaper article
• Box score of the three-pickoff game, Aug. 24, 1983