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Pedro Martinez Inducted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame
Pedro Martinez has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after a career in which he helped the Boston Red Sox end their World Series jinx.
Martinez was inducted on Sunday alongside Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio, who each basked in the spotlight one more time with at least 40,000 fans cheering from the sun-drenched field beyond.
For Martinez, the last to speak, the moment was magical as scores in the crowd waved Dominican flags for one of their own. Martinez, who also delivered part of his speech in Spanish, and former Giants great Juan Marichal, elected in 1983, are the only Hall of Famers from the Caribbean nation.
At the end of the ceremony, Martinez beckoned Marichal to the stage and they held their flag high, one last emotional gesture as the crowd roared.
"We waited 32 years for another Dominican," said Martinez, who wore a patch honoring his nation's flag on one shoulder and another honoring the United States on the other. "I hope all Dominicans remember this. I don't think the Dominican Republic will have a better image than me and Marichal on Father's Day (in the Dominican Republic) to be up there."
Fellow Dominican #HOFer Juan Marichal joins @45PedroMartinez on the stage. #HOFWKND pic.twitter.com/Yv15YmEsBP
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 26, 2015
Martinez, 219-100 for his 18-year career, helped Boston break an 86-year-old World Series drought in 2004 and is the first pitcher inducted who played primarily for the Red Sox.
He grew up with five brothers and sisters in a one-room home on the outskirts of Santo Domingo and credits brother Ramon, a starter with the Dodgers during Pedro's rookie season in Los Angeles, as a key to his career.
"I have a second dad," said Martinez, who won 117 games and three Cy Young Awards in seven seasons pitching in hitter-friendly Fenway Park. "Ramon, you are my second dad. I followed in his footsteps and it led me to where I am today."
He won five ERA titles and had a career mark of 2.93. His 3,154 strikeouts rank 13th on the career list.
Martinez also pitched for the Dodgers, Montreal, the New York Mets and Philadelphia.
.@45PedroMartinez officially immortalized in the @BaseballHall! #PedroHOF #HOFWKND pic.twitter.com/ksBR854vUC
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) July 26, 2015
With reporting from John Kekis of The Associated Press
This article was originally published on July 26, 2015.