Red Sox in Cooperstown Pt. 33: Pedro Martinez

PEDRO MARTINEZ
Years in Boston: 1998-2004 (117-37, 2.52 ERA, 1,683 strikeouts)
Best Year in Boston: 1999 (23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 strikeouts)

Oh man, Pedro Martinez.  What a terrific pitcher he was, quite possibly one of the most dominant starting pitchers I have ever seen.  Every game he pitched in Boston was an event.  He was simply incredible.  And the greatest thing about him was that he was doing this in the Steroid Era.

Martinez came up in the Dodgers system, like his brother Ramon, before being traded to Montreal for Delino DeShields, a trade that did not work out well for Los Angeles.  He became an All Star with the Expos and won his first Cy Young Award in 1997.  After the season, Montreal dealt him to Boston for a couple of pitching prospects: Carl Pavano and Tony Armas, Jr.  The deal did not work out great for Montreal either.

Boston, on the other hand, got a great pitcher in his prime.  1998 saw Martinez finish second in the Cy Young vote to former Red Sox Roger Clemens with a 19-7 record, 2.89 ERA, and 251 strikeouts.  But in 1999, he became the legendary dominant force at the top of the Red Sox rotation.  That season he was a unanimous selection as the Cy Young Award winner and finished second in the MVP vote as well.  I still think he should have won it.  He won the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (23), ERA (2.07), and strikeouts (313, a team record).  He was the All Star Game MVP that season when he struck out five of six batters he faced in the first two innings.  He was also electrifying in the postseason, coming on in relief in the decisive Game 5 of the ALDS against the Indians with six no-hit innings, and winning his only start against the Yankees in the ALCS. 

He might have been even better in 2000.  He was again a unanimous Cy Young winner, going 18-6 with an incredible 1.74 ERA and 284 strikeouts.  Unfortunately, Martinez missed a significant chunk of the 2001 season and only pitched in 18 games, going 7-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 163 strikeouts.  He made a complete comeback in 2002 though, going 20-4 while leading the league with a 2.26 ERA and 239 strikeouts, and probably should have won the Cy Young Award again.  2003 was Martinez's last great season with Boston as he went 14-4 with 206 strikeouts and a league-leading 2.22 ERA.

Martinez was becoming ever more injury-prone as the seasons wore on.  He entered the 2004 season, the last under his seven-year deal with Boston, as no longer the sole focus in the rotation.  The Red Sox had acquired Curt Schilling in the offseason and Schilling was getting a lot of attention.  Martinez was no longer dominating in 2004, he was just very good.  He finished his final season in Boston at 16-9 with an un-Pedro-like 3.90 ERA.  He did strike out 227 batters though.

Pedro Martinez left the Red Sox a World Champion though.  He pitched well in one game against the Angels in the ALDS, but had some trouble with the Yankees in the ALCS.  His final game in a Red Sox uniform came in Game 3 of the World Series against the Cardinals.  He pitched seven strong innings, giving up just three hits and two walks while striking out six and winning.  After the season, Martinez moved on to the Mets and had one last great season before injuries started really taking their toll on his career. 

Martinez was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first attempt in 2015.  He wears a Red Sox cap on his plaque.  Boston fans were lucky to be able to see him in his prime and his Red Sox career consists of two Cy Young Awards, four All Star appearances, an All Star Game MVP, and a World Championship ring.