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“FENWAY'S BEST PLAYERS”  |
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Pedro Martinez grew up in the Dominican Republic in the Santo Domingo suburb of Manoguayabo. His older brother, Ramón Martínez, had a tryout, pitching at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball camp and eventually made the big league team. Pedro would later pitch with the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League during the 1989–90 season. He then pitched briefly for the Azucareros del Este, before rejoining Licey in 1991–92. He was also signed by the Dodgers in 1988 on the recommendation by his brother, and was assigned to the Great Falls Dodgers. He was a highly touted prospect and made his MLB debut in September 1992. Although Ramón declared that his brother was an even better pitcher than he, Pedro was thought by manager Tommy Lasorda too small to be an effective starting pitcher at the MLB level. Lasorda used Pedro almost exclusively as a relief pitcher and Pedro turned in a strong 1993 season as the Dodgers' setup man. But with the Dodgers in need of a second baseman, he was traded to the Montreal Expos before the 1994 season. It was with the Expos that Pedro developed into one of the top pitchers in baseball. Manager Felipe Alou encouraged him to modify his primary grip on the fastball and the transformation was dramatic. Already with one the fastest pitches in the game, now he threw with near-impeccable control and break, that routinely overwhelmed hitters. In April, Pedro took a perfect game into the eighth inning but ended up with a no-decision in a game which the Expos eventually won 3–2. Then in June 1995, he pitched nine perfect innings in a game against the San Diego Padres, before giving up a hit in the bottom of the 10th inning. In 1997, Pedro posted a 17–8 record for the Expos, and led the league in half a dozen pitching categories, including a 1.90 ERA, and 305 strikeouts. He became the only Expo ever to win the National League "Cy Young" Award. Pedro was also the first right-handed pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00, since Walter Johnson did it in 1912. Approaching free agency, Pedro was traded to the Red Sox in November 1997, for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr. He was subsequently signed to a six-year contract, with an option for a seventh year, by Dan Duquette. Pedro's first start in a Red Sox uniform came against the A’s in Oakland on Opening Day, 1998. He fanned 11 in seven shutout innings in a 2-0 victory. The next day, the Sox sold 15,000 tickets for his future games. By the time he returned to Boston for his home debut, the town was abuzz. Pedro finished with a 19-7 record and a 2.89 ERA. In 1999, all the stars were aligned for Pedro to have his best year ever. From his first start to his last, he had it all working. In what ranks among the most remarkable seasons ever, he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA. The league average ERA was almost three runs higher than his. Behind Pedro's stunning performance, the Red Sox fell four wins short of a division title. The highlight of the regular season came at Yankee Stadium in September, when Pedro dismantled the Bronx Bombers with a 17-strikeout, one-hit gem. No one had ever struck out that many Yankees. One of Pedro's most memorable appearances came in the All-Star Game at Fenway. He struck out Barry Larkin, Larry Walker and Sammy Sosa in the first inning, and then fanned Mark McGwire to start the second. Matt Williams reached on an error, but he struck out Jeff Bagwell. Another big day in Pedro's life came on August 31st, when he and his brother Ramon were reunited. The Red Sox picked up Ramon that spring, hoping he would recover from shoulder surgery in time to help them down the stretch. In the 1999 ALCS against the Yankees, Pedro started Game #3 and allowed just two hits and struck out 12 in seven innings, humiliating New York 13-1. Sadly for Red Sox fans, that was their last win of the year. The following season, laboring through shoulder soreness, Pedro still pitched to a microscopic 1.74 ERA. He was tops in the AL in shutouts with four, strikeouts with 284, and batting average allowed at .167. His 18-6 record was the only thing keeping the Sox in the mix most of the year. His best game came against the D-Rays at the end of August, when he took a no-hitter into the ninth, but lost the no-no and won 8-0. In 2001 unfortunately, Pedro could not stay off the DL. After a great 7-1 start, he began to lose velocity in June and went on the shelf for July and most of August with a slight tear in his rotator cuff. Pedro focused on doing whatever it took to give the Sox a complete season the following year, He pitched great all season, was 20-4, and led the league with a 2.26 ERA and 239 strikeouts. In 2003, the offense carried the load for most of the year. David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Jason Varitek, Manny, Nomar and Trot Nixon each hit at least 25 homers, while Bill Mueller won the batting title. Pedro contributed 14 wins and a 2.22 ERA. The Red Sox met the Yankees in the ALCS, and in Game #3 at Fenway, with emotions running particularly high, Pedro threw a bean ball at Karim Garcia. The benches emptied and Pedro spotted Don Zimmer charging at him. He sidestepped Zim and tossed him to the ground. The incident enraged New York fans, as did a gesture Pedro directed at Jorge Posada, when he pointed to his head, indicating that the Yankees catcher was next on his list. The Yankees eventually got the better of Pedro with a 4-3 victory, but the fireworks didn't end. Roger Clemens threw close to Manny as payback, and Manny's overreaction created another fracas. The Sox captured two of the next three games to force a Game #7 in New York, with Pedro on the mound against Clemens again. The Sox chased Roger in the second inning, but Mike Mussina came in to control the damage. The Sox were up 5-2 after seven innings and manager Grady Little then made a fateful decision to send Pedro out for the eighth. Hits by Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams made the score 5-3. Little walked out to the mound but still left Pedro in to face Hideki Matsui, who doubled. Jorge Posada did the same to tie the game, and the Yankees won it in the 11th on Bret Boone's homer. Grady Little was fired 11 days later. The 2004 season would see the Red Sox went on a tear in September and wrap up the Wild Card. Pedro would finish the year at 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA, but still, would average better than a strikeout per inning. In the ALCS, the Sox would sweep the Angels to set up another ALCS meeting with the Yankees. After Pedro would lose 3-1 in Game #2, the Sox would find themselves down two games. But as we all know, the Sox would make an historic come back and then sweep in the World Series Pedro would pitch seven shutout innings in Game #3 against the Cardinals, retiring the last 14 hitters he faced. It would be the last time he pitched for the Red Sox. Pedro would became a free agent at the end of the season and sign with the New York Mets. Pedro Martinez grew up in the Dominican Republic in the Santo Domingo suburb of Manoguayabo. His older brother, Ramón Martínez, had a tryout, pitching at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball camp and eventually made the big league team. Pedro would later pitch with the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League during the 1989–90 season. He then pitched briefly for the Azucareros del Este, before rejoining Licey in 1991–92. He was also signed by the Dodgers in 1988 on the recommendation by his brother, and was assigned to the Great Falls Dodgers. He was a highly touted prospect and made his MLB debut in September 1992. Although Ramón declared that his brother was an even better pitcher than he, Pedro was thought by manager Tommy Lasorda too small to be an effective starting pitcher at the MLB level. Lasorda used Pedro almost exclusively as a relief pitcher and Pedro turned in a strong 1993 season as the Dodgers' setup man. But with the Dodgers in need of a second baseman, he was traded to the Montreal Expos before the 1994 season. It was with the Expos that Pedro developed into one of the top pitchers in baseball. Manager Felipe Alou encouraged him to modify his primary grip on the fastball and the transformation was dramatic. Already with one the fastest pitches in the game, now he threw with near-impeccable control and break, that routinely overwhelmed hitters. In April, Pedro took a perfect game into the eighth inning but ended up with a no-decision in a game which the Expos eventually won 3–2. Then in June 1995, he pitched nine perfect innings in a game against the San Diego Padres, before giving up a hit in the bottom of the 10th inning. In 1997, Pedro posted a 17–8 record for the Expos, and led the league in half a dozen pitching categories, including a 1.90 ERA, and 305 strikeouts. He became the only Expo ever to win the National League "Cy Young" Award. Pedro was also the first right-handed pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00, since Walter Johnson did it in 1912. Approaching free agency, Pedro was traded to the Red Sox in November 1997, for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr. He was subsequently signed to a six-year contract, with an option for a seventh year, by Dan Duquette. Pedro's first start in a Red Sox uniform came against the A’s in Oakland on Opening Day, 1998. He fanned 11 in seven shutout innings in a 2-0 victory. The next day, the Sox sold 15,000 tickets for his future games. By the time he returned to Boston for his home debut, the town was abuzz. Pedro finished with a 19-7 record and a 2.89 ERA. In 1999, all the stars were aligned for Pedro to have his best year ever. From his first start to his last, he had it all working. In what ranks among the most remarkable seasons ever, he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA. The league average ERA was almost three runs higher than his. Behind Pedro's stunning performance, the Red Sox fell four wins short of a division title. The highlight of the regular season came at Yankee Stadium in September, when Pedro dismantled the Bronx Bombers with a 17-strikeout, one-hit gem. No one had ever struck out that many Yankees. One of Pedro's most memorable appearances came in the All-Star Game at Fenway. He struck out Barry Larkin, Larry Walker and Sammy Sosa in the first inning, and then fanned Mark McGwire to start the second. Matt Williams reached on an error, but he struck out Jeff Bagwell. Another big day in Pedro's life came on August 31st, when he and his brother Ramon were reunited. The Red Sox picked up Ramon that spring, hoping he would recover from shoulder surgery in time to help them down the stretch. In the 1999 ALCS against the Yankees, Pedro started Game #3 and allowed just two hits and struck out 12 in seven innings, humiliating New York 13-1. Sadly for Red Sox fans, that was their last win of the year. The following season, laboring through shoulder soreness, Pedro still pitched to a microscopic 1.74 ERA. He was tops in the AL in shutouts with four, strikeouts with 284, and batting average allowed at .167. His 18-6 record was the only thing keeping the Sox in the mix most of the year. His best game came against the D-Rays at the end of August, when he took a no-hitter into the ninth, but lost the no-no and won 8-0. In 2001 unfortunately, Pedro could not stay off the DL. After a great 7-1 start, he began to lose velocity in June and went on the shelf for July and most of August with a slight tear in his rotator cuff. Pedro focused on doing whatever it took to give the Sox a complete season the following year, He pitched great all season, was 20-4, and led the league with a 2.26 ERA and 239 strikeouts. In 2003, the offense carried the load for most of the year. David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Jason Varitek, Manny, Nomar and Trot Nixon each hit at least 25 homers, while Bill Mueller won the batting title. Pedro contributed 14 wins and a 2.22 ERA. The Red Sox met the Yankees in the ALCS, and in Game #3 at Fenway, with emotions running particularly high, Pedro threw a bean ball at Karim Garcia. The benches emptied and Pedro spotted Don Zimmer charging at him. He sidestepped Zim and tossed him to the ground. The incident enraged New York fans, as did a gesture Pedro directed at Jorge Posada, when he pointed to his head, indicating that the Yankees catcher was next on his list. The Yankees eventually got the better of Pedro with a 4-3 victory, but the fireworks didn't end. Roger Clemens threw close to Manny as payback, and Manny's overreaction created another fracas. The Sox captured two of the next three games to force a Game #7 in New York, with Pedro on the mound against Clemens again. The Sox chased Roger in the second inning, but Mike Mussina came in to control the damage. The Sox were up 5-2 after seven innings and manager Grady Little then made a fateful decision to send Pedro out for the eighth. Hits by Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams made the score 5-3. Little walked out to the mound but still left Pedro in to face Hideki Matsui, who doubled. Jorge Posada did the same to tie the game, and the Yankees won it in the 11th on Bret Boone's homer. Grady Little was fired 11 days later. The 2004 season would see the Red Sox went on a tear in September and wrap up the Wild Card. Pedro would finish the year at 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA, but still, would average better than a strikeout per inning. In the ALCS, the Sox would sweep the Angels to set up another ALCS meeting with the Yankees. After Pedro would lose 3-1 in Game #2, the Sox would find themselves down two games. But as we all know, the Sox would make an historic come back and then sweep in the World Series Pedro would pitch seven shutout innings in Game #3 against the Cardinals, retiring the last 14 hitters he faced. It would be the last time he pitched for the Red Sox. Pedro would became a free agent at the end of the season and sign with the New York Mets. Pedro was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2015 with 91.1% of the votes and had his #45 was retired at Fenway Park in July.
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