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'HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO BEAT YOU'
Pedro Martinez was, over a short period of time, the greatest pitcher I have ever seen.
His 1999-2000 seasons might be the two best seasons, back-to-back, in major league history. His numbers during those two years would have been great during the dead ball era, but he put them up in the steroid era, perhaps the greatest offensive span in history.
During his prime, a case could be made that Pedro had the best fastball, the best curveball and the best changeup in the game. I'm not sure any other pitcher has ever had the three best pitches in the game at any one time.
Pedro is probably one of the 15 greatest pitchers ever, and that greatness came from many places, including his competitiveness. He would do anything to beat you. Also, he has the longest fingers you'll ever see on someone who is barely 6 feet tall. Those exceptionally long digits allowed him to get the perfect grip on the ball. But his greatness is due mostly to the fact that he simply had a God-given ability to throw a baseball. He once told me that during his first year in the minor leagues he weighed all of 138 pounds -- and threw 93 mph.
That is amazing. He was amazing.
--Tim Kurkjian
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• Eight-time All-Star selection
• Won NL Cy Young in 1997, AL Cy Young in 1999 and 2000
• Won World Series with 2004 Red Sox
• Had 46 career complete games
• MLB All-Star Game MVP (1999)
• Five 20-win seasons
• Five-time MLB ERA champion (1997, 1999-2000, 2002-2003)
• Three-time AL strikeout champion (1999-2000, 2002)
PEDRO'S FIVE GREATEST GAMES
1. 1999 ALDS Game 5: In one of the best pitching performances in postseason history, Pedro threw six no-hit innings in relief as the Sox beat the Indians in the winner-take-all game. Martínez had lasted only four innings in Game 1 before leaving with a back injury, which also kept him from starting Game 5 in Cleveland. But things got desperate with the score tied 8-8 after 3 1/2 innings. Although a weakened Martínez didn't have his typical velocity, he used his command and guile to stifle the Indians and will the Sox to the ALCS.
2. 2004 World Series Game 3: By the storybook 2004 season, Pedro's most dominant days with the Sox were behind him. But in his first start on the game's biggest stage, Martínez looked like his old self, allowing just three hits and no runs over seven innings against the Cardinals in St. Louis to give the Sox a commanding 3-0 series lead. One night later, the Red Sox were world champions.
3. Sept. 10, 1999: How good was Pedro Martínez on this night? He even won over Yankee Stadium in one of the greatest games ever pitched at the hallowed ballpark. Pedro struck out 17 and allowed just one hit -- a solo homer by Chili Davis -- in an absolutely masterful and mesmerizing performance. So much so that the Yankee Stadium fans eventually cheered on the untouchable Martínez as the K's piled up.
4. 1999 ALCS Game 3: One of the most hyped games in the history of Fenway Park, the "Game of the Century" pitted Martínez against hero-turned-villain Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees. While the Sox's knocking Clemens out in the third inning and the fans' razzing him grabbed the spotlight, Pedro was brilliant, striking out 12 and allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. Alas, the 13-1 win was the only Sox victory of the series.
5. 1999 All-Star Game: With the All-Star Game at Fenway Park for the first time in 38 years, Pedro appropriately got the start after a dominant first half (15-3, 2.10 ERA, 184 Ks). After an emotional pregame ceremony that featured an appearance by Ted Williams, Pedro electrified the Fenway crowd by fanning five of the six batters he faced -- Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell -- while becoming the first pitcher to strike out the side to start an All-Star Game.
HALL OF FAME GALLERY
See more photos of Pedro Martinez and the other three members of the 2015 HOF class. Launch gallery »
PEDRO IN HIS OWN WORDS
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass, pardon me the word."-- May 2001
"Georgie Porgie, he might buy the whole league, but he doesn't have enough money to buy fear to put in my heart.''-- July 2003, after hearing that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wanted MLB to investigate him because he had hit Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter in consecutive plate appearances
"What can I say? Just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddies."
--September 2004, discouraged after getting beat again by the Yankees
"If you reverse the time back 15 years ago, I was sitting under a mango tree without 50 cents to actually pay for a bus. And today I was the center of attention of the whole city of New York." -- October 2004
FORMER TEAMMATES AND COMPETITORS ON PEDRO
"He's so tiny. And I don't know where he gets that speed from. That velocity is amazing."
--Former teammate Larry Walker
"He just loves to pitch in front of a packed house, with everyone standing, watching him work."
-- Former teammate Mo Vaughn
"Pedro's a great competitor. He stares at hitters and pumps his fist when he pitches, but that's all part of his competitive nature. After the game, he's back to being humble. He's always respectful of his opponents."
-Former teammate Tom Glavine
"He's the first person I've ever seen with an above-average fastball and an above-average changeup."
-- Fellow 2015 Hall of Fame inductee Randy Johnson
"If you lean over the plate, he'll stick one up your nose."
-- Former Yankees slugger Jason Giambi
"Pedro has the drive for greatness that Seaver, Carlton, Koufax, Ryan and all the great pitchers had."
-- Former Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan
PEDRO BEING PEDRO
PEDRO ON SOCIAL MEDIA
#Expos #Montreal ...we are Montreal lovers #pedromartinez#felipealou#clifffloyd#rondellwhite# http://t.co/hN9PtYfzxa pic.twitter.com/w9BdWW7rQc
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) January 21, 2015