Not-So-Hot Corner: Indians Third Base Debate Heats Up, Again
February 3, 2016Where the Browns stand: Running Backs
February 3, 2016With the Cleveland Indians announcing their 2016 Hall of Fame class of four players, the Canadian Hall of Fame electees for 2016 were announced on Tuesday as well with former Indians right-handed pitcher Dennis Martinez being one of six inductees, according to the Toronto Star. The righty may have been elected due to his efforts with the Canadian club Montreal Expos, but Martinez played three seasons in Cleveland, toward the end of his career, serving as a large part of that mid-90s squad the current iteration can’t help but celebrate every year since. With the Indians from 1994-96, El Presidénte managed to have a 3.58 ERA, with a 32-17 record, 239 strikeouts and 127 walks in 475.2 innings. He also earned an All-Star trip while with Cleveland for his performance during the 1995 when he posted a 12-5 record with a 3.08 ERA, and 99 strikeouts in 187 innings (28 starts).
Martinez, who was an ace for the Expos, joined the Montreal club in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles during the 1986 season. Joining the bigs on September 14, 1976, the right-hander was the workhouse in their World Series victory and accumulated a 100-72 record with a 3.06 ERA, 973 strikeouts, and 407 walks in 1,609 innings (233 starts) with the Canadian club. The first MLB player from Nicaragua spent eight years with the ‘Spos and threw for the only perfect game in Canadian history for the MLB, taking place on July 28, 1991. It was the 13th perfect game in MLB history.
The starting pitcher played in 23 seasons in all, with Baltimore (11 seasons), Montreal (eight), Cleveland (three), Atlanta (one), and Seattle (one). During that long career Martinez notched a 245-193 record in 3,999 innings and 2,140 strikeouts. He posted 15 seasons of at least 10 wins.
The five other electees are former Blue Jays’ television analyst Tony Kubek, long-time Jays’ public relations executive Howard Starkman, the late William Shuttlesworth, known as the Father of Canadian Baseball and legendary Canadian scout Wayne Norton.