10 Unforgettable Images of the Great Pedro Martinez

By Boston.com Staff

January 6, 2015

2 minutes to read

It all started on Nov. 18, 1997, when the electric Pedro Martinez was acquired from the Montreal Expos for Tony Armas, Jr. and Carl Pavano. A week later on Nov. 25, former Boston GM Dan Duquette sported his best tie, and introduced the clean-cut 26-year-old Martinez to Red Sox Nation. On Dec. 12 of that year, he signed a six-year, $75 million deal with Dan Duquette and the Red Sox.

Pedro gave a healthy sample of what would come throughout his career in a Red Sox uniform in his first start at Fenway Park on April 11, 1998. Martinez tossed a gem against Seattle, throwing a complete game, two-hit shutout with 12 strikouts. The Red Sox won 5-0.

In arguably one of his most stellar moments on the big stage, Martinez got the nod to start the 1999 All Star Game at Fenway after coming into the break with a 15-3 record and 2.10 ERA. He struck out the first four batters — and five of the six he faced — to earn MVP honors in the AL’s 4-1 win.

Later in that year on Sept. 10, Martinez was as lights out as it gets in the Bronx, spinning a one-hit gem with 17 strikeouts in a 3-1 Red Sox win over the Yankees. New York manager Joe Torre compared the effort to the likes of Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax. His lone hit surrendered was a homer to Chili Davis.

The season of 1999 was a magical one for Martinez, and it extended into the postseason. After pitching four scoreless innings in Game 1 of the AL Division Series before leaving with a back injury, Martinez came out of the bullpen in Game 5 with the Sox and Indians tied 8-8 and tossed six no-hit innings in a 12-8 win.

Who could ever forget the infamous showdown between the Yankees and Red Sox on Oct. 11, 2003 in the ALCS. Pedro specifically pointed to catcher Jorge Posada to let him know he wasn’t going to forget this moment as fireworks started to explode at Fenway Park.

Then this happened.

The Red Sox came up short in 2003 against the Yankees. But 2004 brought the Pedro Glo, and new friend Nelson de la Rosa.

Martinez’s last start in a Red Sox uniform was very reminiscent of his first, but with much larger impact. With the Red Sox up two games to none against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, Pedro brought Boston within one game of winning it all with a dazzling seven-inning performance (0 runs, 3 hits, 6 Ks). Quite the bookends of a spectacular Red Sox career.

And finally, the beloved Pedro Martinez was able to showcase his famous two finger point from the top of a rolling Duck Boat to celebrate a Red Sox World Series win. He asked to “wake up the Babe so he could drill him in the a**’’ in 2001 when discussing the Curse of the Bambino, and before he ended his career in a Red Sox uniform, he was able to deliver. Here’s to you, Pedro Martinez, one of Boston’s finest on and off the field.