Description
2016 Hall of Famer.
Born in 1954 in Granada, Nicaragua, Martinez recorded 100 wins (second-most in franchise history) in parts of eight seasons with the Montreal Expos from 1986 to 1993. The durable right-hander also ranks second all-time amongst Expos pitchers in games started (233) and innings pitched (1,609) and third in strikeouts (973), complete games (41) and shutouts (13). Nicknamed ?El Presidente,? Martinez was the first Nicaraguan to play in the major leagues, and when he tossed a perfect game on July 28, 1991 ? the only one in Expos history ? the club?s play-by-play man and 2014 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Dave Van Horne famously quipped ?El Presidente, El Perfecto.?
During his tenure with the Expos, Martinez was selected to three all-star games (1990 to 1992) and in 1991, he topped the National League in ERA (2.39), complete games (9) and shutouts (5). In his eight seasons with Montreal, he posted a combined 3.06 ERA and won 10 or more games seven times and 15 or more four times.
Martinez was traded to Montreal on June 16, 1986 after accumulating 108 wins in his first 11 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. In also registering 100 wins for the Expos, Martinez became one of only 10 pitchers to reach the century mark in wins in both the National League and American League. He also toed the rubber for the Cleveland Indians (1994 to 1996), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998) during his 23-year major league career and finished with 245 victories, which ranks 52nd?all-time.
Martinez was also active in charitable endeavors, establishing the Dennis Martinez Foundation to aid underprivileged children around the world. In recent years, he has served as the manager of the Nicaraguan national team and as a pitching instructor in the Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. He was also the bullpen coach of the Houston Astros in 2013.
