11 Days of Edgar: By the Numbers

Day 1: Seattle Icon
Day 2: Postseason Hero

One number immediately comes to mind when you hear the name Edgar Martinez: 11.

And following Edgar Martinez Number Retirement Night at Safeco Field on Saturday, August 12, Edgar will forever be the only Mariner to don №11 on his jersey.

But there are several other numbers that tell the story of Edgar’s outstanding 18-year career with the Seattle Mariners.

.310/.410/.510:

Over his Major League career, Edgar hit .312 with a .418 on-base percentage and a .515 slugging mark. He is one of 14 players in Major League history to post a lifetime triple slash line of at least .310/.410/.510. Of the 13 other players to do so, nine are Hall of Famers and one is an active player.

Players with lifetime .310+ AVG, .410+ OBP, .510+ SLG

Ty Cobb
Jimmie Foxx
Lou Gehrig
Hank Greenberg
Harry Heilmann
Todd Helton
Rogers Hornsby
Joe Jackson
Edgar Martinez
Stan Musial
Manny Ramirez
Babe Ruth
Joey Votto*
Ted Williams
Hall of Famers in italics
* active player

40:

Edgar tallied 40-or-more doubles in 5 seasons, most of any Mariner in club history. In fact, there have only been 15 individual seasons with at least 40 doubles by a Mariner, and 5 belong to №11. Four of Edgar’s five seasons with 40-plus doubles came when he was 32-or-older, the 4th-most such seasons in Major League history. Only Pete Rose (6), Tris Speaker (6) and Craig Biggio (5) hit at least 40 doubles in more age-32 or older seasons than Edgar.

.450:

Edgar posted an on-base percentage of .450-or-better in three consecutive season from 1995–97. He is one of 11 players to accomplish this feat in Major League history.

Most Consecutive Seasons with .450+ On-Base Percentage

Ty Cobb, 7 (1910–16)
Rogers Hornsby, 5 (1921–25)
Wade Boggs, 4 (1985–88)
Barry Bonds, 4 (2001–04)
Lou Gehrig, 4 (1934–37)
Frank Thomas, 4 (1994–97)
Ted Williams, 4 (1946–49)
Joe Jackson, 3 (1911–13)
Edgar Martinez, 3 (1995–97)
Babe Ruth, 3, 3x, (1919–21, 1926–28, 1930–32)
Ted Williams, 3 (1956–58)
Hall of Famers in italics

50:

Edgar clubbed 50 doubles in back-to-back seasons, collecting a league-leading 52 doubles in 1995 before posting an identical mark in 1996. He is one of 9 players in Major League history — and one of 4 players in American League history — to post 50-or-more doubles in consecutive seasons.

Consecutive Seasons with 50 Doubles

Tris Speaker, 1920–21
George Burns, 1926–27
Billy Herman, 1935–36
Joe Medwick, 1936–37
Edgar Martinez, 1995–96
Craig Biggio, 1998–99
Todd Helton, 2000–01
Albert Pujols, 2003–04
Brian Roberts, 2008–09

145:

Edgar led the AL with 145 RBI in 2000, most by a 37-year-old since Babe Ruth in 1932 (137).

90:

Edgar drew at least 90 walks in 8 seasons, most by any Mariner. His 1,283 career walks — the all-time club record — lead the next closest Mariner (Ken Griffey Jr., 819) by more than 400 walks.

2:

Edgar won two American League batting titles, claiming the crown with a .343 batting average in 1992 and a .356 mark in 1995. His .356 average in 1995 was the highest average to lead the AL by a right-handed batter since Joe Dimaggio hit .381 for the Yankees in 1941.

5:

Edgar was a 5-time Silver Slugger award winner, claiming the award as a 3rd baseman in 1992 and as a DH in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003. His 4 Silver Sluggers as a DH are 2nd-most in Major League history (David Ortiz, 6).

5:

Edgar was a 5-time recipient of the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, earning the honors in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2001. In 2004, the award was renamed the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.

7:

Edgar was a 7-time American League All-Star, 3rd-most by a Mariner. He trails only Ken Griffey Jr. (10) and Ichiro (10).

Edgar Martinez Weekend is set for August 11–13 when the Mariners host the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field. The weekend-long celebration begins with Bobblehead Night on Friday, August 11. Edgar joins Ken Griffey Jr. in becoming the 2nd player in franchise history to have his number retired in a pre-game ceremony on Edgar Martinez Number Retirement Night, Saturday, August 12. The festivities conclude with Edgar Martinez Replica Jersey Day on Sunday, August 13.

Tomorrow, we take a look at Edgar’s extraordinary numbers against the New York Yankees, including his clutch hits in the postseason and his success against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.