Player Spotlight - Silvio Martinez

Silvio Martinez was born in the Domincan Republic on August 19, 1955. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was 18. The Pirates traded him in 1956 to the Chicago White Sox, who traded him the next year to the St. Louis Cardinals. On May 26, 1978 at the tender age of 22 Martinez no hits Omaha in the minor leagues. Three days later after being called up to the parent club he one hits the New York Mets. The rookie pitches 2 one hitters and 2 two hitters for the Cardinals that year. At the end of the season Silvio Martinez is 23, has pitched 138 innings, has 9 wins, 5 complete games, and 2 shut outs. The world is his playground.

In 1979, Martinez finishes the season with more wins than any other Cardinal. He goes 15 – 8, pitches 200 innings, and completes 7 games. At the age of 24 he has 24 major league victories. In comparison, when hall of fame pitcher Bob Gibson turns 24 he has 3 major league victories.

Martinez at 24 had established himself as a major league starter and an ace of one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. He had taken his opportunity and ran with it. His career trajectory was dialed directly for the Hall of Fame and he was going to be the next great Cardinal pitcher.

But baseball is not always predictable or fair. Martinez developed arm and shoulder trouble. His record in 1980 was 5 – 10 and in 1981 it was 2 – 5. He was then traded to the Cleveland Indians in a 3 way deal that brought Lonnie Smith to the Cardinals. He never pitched in the majors again however and he retired from baseball.