| Dennis Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 14, 1955 Granada, Nicaragua |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 14, 1976 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1998 for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 245–193 |
| Earned run average | 3.70 |
| Strikeouts | 2,149 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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José Dennis Martínez Emilia (born May 14, 1955 in Granada, Nicaragua), nicknamed "El Presidente" (The President),[1] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first Nicaraguan baseball player (pitcher or position player) to play in the majors.
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Martínez pitched for the Baltimore Orioles (1976-1986), Montreal Expos (1986-1993), Cleveland Indians (1994-1996), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998).
During a 23-year baseball career, Martínez compiled 245 wins, 2,149 strikeouts, and a 3.70 earned run average. He is one of the top Latin American pitchers of all-time. On July 28, 1991, Martínez pitched the thirteenth perfect game in baseball history, pitching for the Montreal Expos against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He remains the only Latin American-born pitcher to pitch a perfect game.[2]
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.
On September 28, 1995, Martínez had the misfortune to be the last man to pitch to the late Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett in his career. A wild pitch by Martínez broke Puckett's jaw.
Martínez has the most career victories of any pitcher who has never won 20 games in a single season. Milt Pappas, Jerry Reuss, Frank Tanana, Charlie Hough, Chuck Finley, and Kenny Rogers are the only other pitchers with more than 200 career victories who have done so. (Of those, Reuss and Rogers had pitched no-hitters, with Rogers' also being a perfect game three years to the day of Martínez's.)
In his post-playing career, Martinez has worked as a spring training instructor for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 and 2006,[3] and currently serves as the pitching coach for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League.[4]
The national baseball park in Managua (Nicaragua's capital city), Dennis Martínez National Stadium, was named in his honor.
Martinez runs his own organization, The Dennis Martinez Foundation, to help poor children around the world.
July 13th, 1991: Pitched 13th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Steve Stone |
American League Wins Champion 1981 (with Steve McCatty, Jack Morris & Pete Vukovich) |
Succeeded by LaMarr Hoyt |
| Preceded by Tom Browning |
Perfect game pitcher July 28, 1991 |
Succeeded by Kenny Rogers |
| Preceded by Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, & Gregg Olson |
No-hitter pitcher July 28, 1991 |
Succeeded by Wilson Alvarez |
| Preceded by Danny Darwin |
National League ERA Champion 1991 |
Succeeded by Bill Swift |
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