On the cusp of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Red Sox great Pedro Martinez had strong words for a former ESPN host who sparked controversy with his remarks about players from the Dominican Republic.
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It was a beautifully sunny day at the baseball shrine in Cooperstown, New York, and 49 members of the Hall were on hand to witness the proceedings.
“I was so impressed with how many orange groves there were, and how the oranges were such a bright orange color and looked so ripe”. I’m sorry. I’m dealing here with educated people, I’m dealing here with enlightened people, who understand human rights, understand who we are, these are the people I’m paying attention to. No littering, no loud talking, no sloppy clothes. “Certainly, the numbers are there, but as you know from previous cases where [you could ask]: Why not Roger Clemens?”
“That person, I don’t even know, never heard of him, I don’t want to know him”.
All across the vast pasture of the Clark Sports Center hundreds of navy, red and white Dominican flags waved vigorously while, pressed up against the picket fence that separated the general fan populace from the media and the Hall of Fame families and dignitaries, a tin drum mini-meringue band periodically filled the meadow with, well, a symphony to Pedro. “Hooking the rubber (on the mound) was the Dodgers way”.
Shoulders across New England slumped when Martinez had to leave Game 1 of the ’99 American League Division Series rematch against the Indians with a bad back. I wanted to beat the best. “I was like, ‘This guy is coming in.’ After that it was just everybody was making that long walk back to the dugout, because he was on”.
After tagging a base with the wrong foot in a drill at Dodgertown, Martinez was chastised by coach Chico Fernandez. Very rarely do you get pumped up and psyched at the All-Star Game, especially if you’ve had a few under your belt, but the adrenaline was flowing really good. Then Mackanin took over the Reds from Jerry Narron in 2007 and went 41-39, but they hired Dusty Baker in 2008. He was in Triple-A in 1989 along with Gene Harris when they and another pitcher, Brian Holman, were traded to the Seattle Mariners for free-agent-eligible pitcher Mark Langston. He told Martinez to stop.
“Whoever gets the chance to make it here, makes it, ” Martinez added.
1990: Playing in Great Falls, Montana. Martinez joins Marichal, who was enshrined with the class of 1983.
“It must’ve been 6:30 in the morning”, Martinez said after the ceremony.
1992: Minor leaguer in Albuquerque.
“I had to just really reinvent myself many, many times, and find ways to overcome”, said Smoltz, who did not play in 2000 after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction on his right arm. Then he said it again.
Martinez said he wants to be remembered for being more than a ball player.
1993: Spring training at Dodgertown. That’s OK. The pitchers in this recent era aren’t allowed to throw as many innings as back in the 1960s (how did Koufax’s career end, by the way?).
In a quiet moment in the Hall, Martinez made peace with the Babe. So now, Pedro, it’s our turn to tip our hats to you.
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“I would like to invite Mr. Juan Marichal to come forward and give the Dominican Republic a gift they waited 32 years to get, ” Martinez said.
