Mariners To Honor Edgar Martinez with Hall of Fame Special Events at T-Mobile Park

Fans will have the chance to celebrate Edgar Martinez’s impending induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame during special events at T-Mobile Park this summer.

Edgar’s election to the Hall of Fame was announced on Tuesday, making him the second Mariners player, along with Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016, to attain Major League Baseball’s highest honor.

On Sunday, July 21, Edgar will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. The ceremony, which will start at 10:30 a.m. PDT, will be carried live on MarinersVision prior to the Mariners game against the Los Angeles Angels (1:10 p.m.). Fans will receive an Edgar Martinez Hall of Fame commemorative placard.

A few weeks later, fans will have a chance to pay tribute to the greatest right-handed hitter of his generation during Edgar Martinez Hall of Fame Weekend at T-Mobile Park when the Tampa Bay Rays come to town.

• Friday, August 9 — The first 40,000 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead featuring Edgar holding a replica of his Hall of Fame plaque.
• Saturday, August 10 — A pregame ceremony in Edgar’s honor will start at 6:30 p.m. (7:10 p.m. first pitch). The first 40,000 fans will receive a replica of Edgar’s Hall of Fame plaque.
• Sunday, August 11 — The first 40,000 fans will receive Edgar Martinez Drive South replica street signs.

Among the many tributes to Edgar over the years, one of the most enduring, and public, was the naming of a street after him. In March 2005, then-Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels renamed the stretch of South Atlantic Street that borders the south side of the ballpark Edgar Martinez Drive.

In explaining why he was renaming the street, Nickels said, “Edgar Martinez is an outstanding example of commitment, leadership and generosity. Those are the values we hope to see in all our professional athletes. He’s given Seattle a great legacy of success in baseball and success in life. Edgar Martinez Drive South will inspire us — and future generations — every time we come down here to see a game.”

Edgar Martinez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on January 22, appearing on 363 out of 425 ballots cast, for 85.4% (75% is required for election). Joining Edgar in Cooperstown this year are fellow greats of the game Mariano Rivera, Mike Mussina, Roy Halladay, Harold Baines and Lee Smith.

During his 18-year Major League playing career, spent entirely with the Seattle Mariners, Edgar was a seven-time All-Star, won five Silver Sluggers, was five times named Outstanding Designated Hitter, the award that now bears his name, and won two American League batting titles.