Career
He was the first Nicaraguan baseball player (pitcher or position player) to play in the majors. Martínez pitched for the Baltimore Orioles (1976–1986), Montreal Expos (1986–1993), Cleveland Indians (1994–1996), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998). During a 23-year baseball career, Martínez compiled 245 wins, 2,149 strikeouts, and a 3.70 earned run average.
He is one of the top Latin American pitchers of all-time.
On July 28, 1991, Martínez pitched the thirteenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history, pitching for the Montreal Expos against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the first Latin American-born pitcher to pitch a perfect game.
Others to do that are Jim Bunning, Ferguson Jenkins, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Orth, Gaylord Perry, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan and Cy Young. On September 28, 1995, a wild pitch by Martinez broke the jaw of Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett.
This would be Puckett"s last official game of his career, retiring in 1996 due to glaucoma in his right eye, a problem unrelated to Martinez"s pitch.
Milt Pappas, Jerry Reuss, Frank Tanana, Charlie Hough, Chuck Finley, Kenny Rogers, and Tim Wakefield are the only other pitchers with at least 200 career victories who have done southern (Of these, Pappas, Reuss and Rogers had pitched no-hitters, with Rogers" also being a perfect game, three years to the day of Martínez"s)
During Martinez" time with the Expos, a variation of the Montreal hot dog topped with cheese and bacon called the Denny Dog was sold at Olympic Stadium. Martinez has worked as a spring training instructor for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 and 2006, and pitching coach for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League.
On November 5, 2012, the Houston Astros finalized their coaching staff for the 2013 season, naming Martínez as their new bullpen coach.
He was fired on October 1, 2013. Martinez also is manager of the Nicaraguan national baseball team, and managed during the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament.
The national baseball park in Managua (Nicaragua"s capital city), Dennis Martínez National Stadium, was named in his honor. Martinez runs his own organization, The Dennis Martínez Foundation, to help poor children around the world.
4-time All-Star (1990–1992, 1995)
Led league in wins (1981)
Led league in European Research Area (1991)
Led league in shutouts (1991)
6-time Top 10 in shutouts (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994–1996)
Led league in games started, innings pitched and batters faced (1979)
9-time pitched 220 or more innings in a season (1978–1979, 1982, 1988–1993)
3-time oldest player in the majors (1996–1998)
60th on the strikeouts all-time list
Secretariat record for most wins by a Latin American pitcher (244 - August 9, 1998)
Pitched the 13th perfect game in baseball history (July 28, 1991) with the Montreal Expos.
