Tino Martinez brings leadership, experience to St. Louis; former Yankee first baseman strives to fill void left by Mark McGwire's retirement - American Baseball League - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, July, 2002 by David Andriesen

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LOUSIEST cab ride of Tino Martinez's life. As the clock ticked into last November 5, Martinez was riding to the Phoenix airport from Bank One Ballpark, where the first baseman and the rest of the New York Yankees had done the unthinkable: They lost the World Series.

Martinez had been a World Series champion four times in pinstripes, and like the rest of the Yankees, he had expected to win again. Now the season had ended with a crushing defeat, and his career in New York had ended as well. The rumors said Martinez was out, and stellar prospect Nick Johnson would be taking over at first.

What Tino Martinez did in that dark moment tells you a great deal about him, and about why he is regarded not only as a great player but as one of the best people in baseball.

Martinez pulled out his Cell phone and called to leave a message for a childhood friend. Not just any friend, but Luis Gonzalez--the man whose bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning had given the Arizona Diamondbacks the World Series and caused the very funk that would plague Martinez all winter.

"He's a great friend and we grew up together," Martinez said matter-of-factly. "I was disappointed that I lost the World Series, but excited that he got to experience winning it."

Gonzalez received many congratulatory phone messages that night. The first came from his Tampa Catholic High School teammate.

Martinez's productive and rewarding six-year Yankees career was, in fact, over--but instead of Johnson, it was former American League MVP Jason Giambi who took his place.

Despite numerous reports of Giambi's impending arrival, free-agent Martinez didn't begin looking for a new team until the day before the new first baseman showed up at Yankee Stadium.

The St. Louis Cardinals, meanwhile, had a fairly conspicuous hole to fill. Mark McGwire--perhaps you've heard of him--had announced his retirement after hitting .187 as his body screamed for mercy.

Nobody can replace a player like McGwire, but no one was better suited to follow in his enormous footsteps than Martinez. After six years in Seattle, the man known in the Emerald City then and forever simply as Tino had gone to New York in 1996 and replaced the great Don Mattingly. In six years in New York, he averaged 115 RBI and 29 home runs.

"This guy is strong mentally," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He took over for Don Mattingly in New York. How much tougher is it to follow Mark?"

Martinez said that as in New York, he's not supplanting or replacing anyone, but filling an open spot.

"Hey, somebody's got to play first base this year," he said with his trademark lack of hyperbole.

Martinez, who signed a three-year, contract, joined a potentially terrific team that many considered the National League front-runner this season. The Cardinals have explosive young talent in former rookie of the year Albert Pujols and J.D. Drew. They have rock-solid veterans such as Fernando Vina and Jim Edmonds. They have Gold Glove-quality defense all over the field, and are eight deep in legitimate starting pitchers.

And with Martinez, a .995 career fielder, they have a clubhouse leader and a player who in the past seven years has driven in more runs than all but one major league first baseman.

"He's a great person, great player, great teammate," said second baseman Vina. "He's an awesome defensive player, and with what he brings to the clubhouse, he's a tremendous strength for us."

"We expected a lot, and he's been a lot," La Russa said. "He's gone at everything 100 percent, he's taking his swings and playing good defense, and he gets along with everybody in the clubhouse. I think he likes what he sees here in his new teammates.

"Mark had that very special place in history, but Tino has four rings, and more RBI in the last six or seven years than anybody in our clubhouse. I don't like to make comparisons (to McGwire). I just hope that when it's over and we've gone through this season, people will say this was a good situation. We're going to try to make our own mark."

Most RBI as a first baseman,
past seven seasons:
(1995-2001)

   Player            RBI

1. Jeff Bagwell      838
2. Tino Martinez     785
3. Mark McGwire      733
4. Eric Karros       685
5. Rafael Palmeiro   669

NOTE: Includes only RBI produced
while playing first base
Tino Martinez's Production Through The Years

Year   Team      HR   RBI     BA

1990   Mariners   0     5   .221
1991   Mariners   4     9   .205
1992   Mariners  16    66   .257
1993   Mariners  17    60   .265
1994   Mariners  20    61   .261
1995   Mariners  31   111   .293
1996   Yankees   25   117   .292
1997   Yankees   44   141   .296
1998   Yankees   28   123   .281
1999   Yankees   28   105   .263
2000   Yankees   16    91   .258
2001   Yankees   34   113   .280