11 Days of Edgar: Defining the DH Position
Day 1: Seattle Icon
Day 2: Postseason Hero
Day 3: By the Numbers
Day 4: The Yankee Killer
Day 5: The Doubles
Edgar Martinez was a 5-time recipient of the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, claiming the honors in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001.
During Edgar’s retirement ceremony at Safeco Field in 2004, Commissioner Bud Selig announced that Major League Baseball had renamed the award the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
There are eight major awards that bear the name of a baseball figure, and one of those names is Edgar Martinez:
· Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award (Edgar Martinez)
· MVP Award (Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award)
· Cy Young Award (Cy Young)
· Rookie of the Year Award (Jackie Robinson)
· Roberto Clemente Award (Roberto Clemente)
· Hank Aaron Award (Hank Aaron)
· Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award (Mariano Rivera)
· Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award (Trevor Hoffman)
Hall of Famers in italics
After injuries limited Edgar in 1993 and 1994, Lou Piniella moved him from 3rd base to DH in 1995, where he played primarily for the rest of his career. He continued to be one of the most-feared hitters of his era.
When Edgar won the American League batting title in 1995 with a .356 average, he became the first full-time DH to claim a batting crown. He made 95 percent of his starts at DH in 1995, still the highest percentage of starts at DH of any batting champion ahead of Manny Ramirez in 2002 (42 percent) and Frank Thomas in 1997 (33 percent).
In 1,403 career appearances at DH, Edgar hit .314 with 883 runs, 370 doubles, 6 triples, 243 home runs, 1,003 RBI, 986 walks, a .428 on-base percentage and a .532 slugging percentage.
Among players with at least 3,000 career plate appearances as a designated hitter, Edgar owns the highest career batting average, on-base percentage and OPS.
He also ranks 2nd in doubles and home runs at DH while ranking 3rd in home runs.
Highest Career AVG as DH
Edgar Martinez, .314
Paul Molitor, .308
Hal McRae, .295
Victor Martinez, .291
Harold Baines, .291
Edgar is one of two players in Major League history to collect 1,000 career RBI from the designated hitter position, joining David Ortiz (1,569).
Edgar — a 5-time recipient of the Outstanding DH Award — joins Ortiz (8) as the only players to earn those honors at least 4 times since the DH was adopted by the American League in 1973.
Edgar won 4 Silver Slugger Awards as a DH (1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003), 2nd-most in Major League history (Ortiz, 6).
Highest Career OBP as DH
Edgar Martinez, .428
Frank Thomas, .394
Jim Thome, .391
David Ortiz, .383
Chili Daivs, .381
Highest Career OPS as DH
Edgar Martinez, .959
David Ortiz, .942
Jim Thome, .923
Frank Thomas, .899
Travis Hafner, .882
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.
Edgar was the best right-handed hitter of his era. Tomorrow, we examine Edgar’s place among the all-time greats of the game of baseball.
