My Ode to Edgar Martinez

I wish I could tell you about ” The Double”. I wish I could spend today remembering the great “Refuse to Lose” Mariners.

I mean, I can tell you about them. Sure, I can recite Dave Niehaus call of ” The Double” perfectly on command. But, I cannot speak with first-hand accounts. The truth is, during the greatest moment in Mariners franchise history, I was probably asleep.

I was still two months away from turning four. I wouldn’t become a big fan of baseball for another six years. The truth is, I missed most of Edgar’s prime. I saw his great 2001 season but I had no appreciation for it at the time.

I was at his final game, crying like a baby as he grounded into a fielder’s choice in his final at-bat. But even then, I couldn’t tell you why I was crying. By all accounts, I am the last person who should be reminiscing about his hall of fame caliber career.

But despite only watching him for three full seasons, Edgar Martinez was, is, and will always be, my favorite player.

I wore his number 11 from year one of Little League until my final game of my senior year of high school. I tried like mad to emulate his batting stance, although I could never get it quite right.

At the plate, I could only do two things well: I never chased poor pitches, and I could really hit the ball to right field. Those are Edgar’s calling cards.

Edgar was a slow but smart base-runner. I was… well let’s just say I never led the team in stolen bases.

Edgar had problems with his left eye, I have had problems with my left ear my entire life. As crazy as it sounds, when I watched him play, I thought I could be him. I mean, we were practically the same player, right?

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As crazy as it sounds, when I watched him play, I thought I could be him. I mean, we were practically the same player, right?

The simple truth is this, in an era with extreme power numbers and baseball players who looked like world-class bodybuilders, Edgar Martinez was different. He made hitting look easy, and he did it without a hint of PED use.

Edgar has never worn another Major League uniform. When Ken Griffey Jr and Randy Johnson forced their way out-of-town, he stayed. When Alex Rodriguez left the Mariners, Edgar Martinez wished him well and led the 2001 Mariners to 116 wins.

The Seattle Mariners owe a debt to the true Mr. Mariner. He hit the double that saved the franchise. He never left. We have much to complain about being fans of this franchise.

Next: Edgar Martinez Greatest Hits

But, Edgar Martinez is not one of them. He will be a Hall of Fame player and never forget: he is all ours.