Mariners
Best of Edgar

ED REINKE / AP All-Star teammates greet Edgar Martinez after his solo home run off Greg Maddux in 1997 in Cleveland.

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Best hit: What else could it be but "The Double" that won Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees in 1995? The Mariners were down 5-4 in the 11th inning when Martinez's hit scored Joey Cora and Ken Griffey Jr. with the tying and winning runs. "That was such a great experience and so much fun," Martinez said yesterday. "That was just a unique feeling. I don't think I ever had another feeling like that in all the years I played."

Best game: Martinez was actually even better in Game 4 of the 1995 ALDS, hitting a three-run homer and a grand slam as the Mariners rallied to beat the Yankees 11-8 and stay alive. He became the first player in postseason history with seven RBI in a game.

Best steal: Believe it or not, there was a time when Martinez could run. He had a career-high 14 stolen bases in 1992. And in 1990, he stole home on a double steal with Griffey, keying a 6-3 win over Kansas City.

Best fielding game: The Mariners' record for double plays turned in a game by a third baseman is three. The last time it was done was by Martinez, on July 16, 1992.

Best commercial: In this year's Mariners TV ad featuring Martinez, he comes up with a plan to rig the stadium lights to "the clapper." But when the crowd starts clapping in rhythm during a game, the lights go on and off, on and off. Martinez deadpans: "That's a problem."

Best season: It's a hard call between 1995, when Martinez led the AL with a .356 average and .479 on-base percentage, and 2000, when he led the AL with a career-high 145 RBI and hit a career-high 37 homers. But considering what the 1995 season meant, that year gets the call with us. That is also the only year in which Martinez never missed a game, playing in all 145, plus 11 more in the playoffs.

Best All-Star Game moment: Martinez played in seven and hit his only homer in 1997 off Atlanta's Greg Maddux.

Best stat: How consistent has Martinez been? He has a lifetime average of .312 at home and .313 on the road, .309 before the All-Star break and .316 after, and .322 against left-handed pitchers and .309 against righties.

— Bob Condotta

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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