TINO MARTINEZ
First Year on Ballot
PLAYING CAREER: Seattle Mariners (1990–1995), New York Yankees (1996–2001), St. Louis Cardinals (2002–2003), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004) and New York Yankees (2005)
ACHIEVEMENTS: Career batting average of .271 with 1925 hits, 339 home runs and 1271 RBI. Four-time World Series champion (1996 and 1998-2000). His teams advanced to the postseason in nine of his 16 big league seasons. Two-time All-Star (1995 and 1997). Won a gold medal for the USA in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:
@baseballtwit: I had a horrible dream last night where Tino Martinez received more Hall of Fame votes than John Olerud.
@lagranderusty: Anyone ever notice Tino Martinez looks like the Brooklyn brawler Steve Lombardi
HOVG THOUGHTS: Another overshadowed first baseman (and probably rightfully so), Martinez is only mentioned in conversations because there are some out there (I’m looking your way Yankees fans) that think guys like Tino, Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill deserve a spot up on the wall. But here’s the thing…none of them hold a candle to Don Mattingly, and last year, “Donnie Baseball” couldn’t muster more than 16.1%.
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