Edgar Martinez: Deserving of the Hall?

Edgar. Gar.

Papi

(to be honest, not sure if that would ACTUALLY ring a bell for me…I’m more of a “Gar” man myself).

Number 11, in teal outlined navy blue, on the back of a sparkling white Mariners jersey. Ring any bells?

Of course we’re talking about Edgar Martinez. The man has a restaurant at Safeco AND a street named after him. His double in the ’95 playoffs may have helped keep Major League Baseball in Seattle. I suppose it’s safe to say we’re fans. Not only is he in the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame, but he’s the only inductee to have played his entire career with them.

That loyalty, that integrity, is part of the reason Mariners fans have such fond memories of him.  That same integrity was part of the reason he won the 2004 Roberto Clemente Award. Of course it’s not just integrity that makes one a fan favorite.

That .312 lifetime BA probably didn’t hurt either. Along with being a 2 time A.L. batting champion, a 7 time All-Star, and a 5 time Silver Slugger award winner. That fifth and final Silver Slugger coming during his age 40 season, by the way.

On a minor note, Ken Griffey Jr’s age 40 season (sorry to remind you) came with a .184 BA, a -0.8 WAR, and a bittersweet retirement halfway through the season. 

More from Seattle Mariners History

• Why This 2022 Mariners Team Is Different Than Years Past
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: Outfielder Denard Span
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: First Baseman Bryan LaHair
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: Outfielder James Jones
• What If… The Mariners Didn’t Trade Michael Pineda?

“Okay,” you say ,”we get the picture.” Do we? Does the BASEBALL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA?!

After Martinez’s latest snub, apparently not.

Might one think a player whose highest Hall of Fame ballot percentage is 36.5, and who this year received a measly 27 percent, would not be worthy of naming an award after?

One might.

So it seems tough to reconcile the fact that the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award was renamed the Edgar Martinez award…OVER A DECADE AGO.

The only other four players in the history of the game to have awards named after them are as follows: Cy Young, Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, and Hank Aaron.

Of course they are all in the hall of fame.

The argument goes that, because he was primarily a DH, his hitting accomplishments are not enough.

Despite the fact that freshly inducted Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez called Edgar the toughest hitter he ever faced, and fellow HOF newbie Randy Johnson claimed, he was the best hitter he ever saw (here).

But of course Hall of Fame pitchers wouldn’t know any more about tough hitters than sportswriters would.

Even if the sportswriters fail to appoint Martinez to his proper place in Cooperstown, his history speaks for itself…and that award will probably do some speaking as well.