Hint: #1 Two years earlier he led the league in saves, helping his team win its division for the first time in thirteen years.

Hint: #2 He wears a uniform umber that corresponds to the number of players from his country who had become major leaguers.

Midweek Bonus question answered:

Q. Who was the first pitcher named Martinez to pitch in the World for the Baltimore Orioles?

Hint: #1 He started his team’s last game before a major league strike stopped the season & then started the first game back after cooler heads prevailed to end the strike.

Hint: #2 He faced and surrendered home runs to a famous major league father and son duo.

A.  DENNIS MARTINEZ  [SABR Bio]

– Ans. Martinez was the game #4 starter in the 1979 WS. He didn’t, however, make it through the 2^nd inning. All 4 batters he faced got a hit before he recorded an out, including a HR, 2 doubles & a single before manager Earl Weaver had seen enough.

– #1 Martinez started the Orioles’ final game before the 1981 players’ strike, a loss to Seattle on 11-Jun-1981.  When play resumed on 10-Aug-1981, Martinez again got the start, this time in a win over KCR.  Though he didn’t earn the decision, namesake Tippy Martinez did.

– #2 Bobby Bonds & Barry Bonds each homered off Martinez. Cleveland’s Bobby’s home runs were on 20-Jun-1979 & 20-Sep-1979. A decade later Barry Bonds , then with Pittsburgh, went deep off Martinez on 14-Aug-1989.

FCR – Andrew Milner, Philadelphia