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Pedro Martinez Is One of the Greatest Pitchers in History

In 2006 he gained his 200 game winner and with only 84 losses had the highest winning percentage of any 200 game winner.

Born in the Dominique Republic on October 25, 1971 he started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 as a relief pitcher.

At the time his brother was a star pitcher with the Dodgers and was quoted as saying Pedro was even better.

However their manager, Tommy Lasorda, stated that he wouldn't make Major League level as he was too small to be a starting pitcher.

Before the start of the 1994 season he was traded by the Dodgers to the Montreal Expos and it was witrh them that his game improved and that he developed into on of the Major's top pitchers.

He won his first Cy Award in 1997 after topping the league in several catagories including a 1.90 ERA, 305 strikeouts and 13 complete games pitched.

In November 1997 he was traded to the Boston Red Sox where he negotiated a six year contract for $75,000,000 and the option of a seventh season for $17,000,000.

In 1998 he enjoyed one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time earning the Triple Crown for finishing 23-4, with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikes and being unamiously awarded his second Cy Young award but unfortunately he just missed the MVP award ballot, coming in at second place, although this decision was considered contraversial bas he received the most first place votes.

Martinez dominated the League in the 1999 season. He was the winner of the AL Pitcher of the Month Award in April, May, June and September and capped this by winning the All Star Game MVP award after he struck out 5 hitters in two exciting innings during the All-Star Game at Fenway Park.

One of Martinez greatest games and most truimphant moments was during the 1999 playoffs against the Cleveland Indians.

During the game Martinez was forced to retire with a strained back. Later the game became a tied and became a slugfest as neither teams starting pitchers were very effective.

Martinez then unexpectedly entered as a relief pitcher and struck out eight hitters and walked three giving the Red Sox a 12-8 win.

His 2000 season was also exceptional with a 1.74 ERA posted, the American Leagues lowest since 1978, as well as winning his third Cy Young Award. His 0.74 WHIP in 2000 was also exceptional and broke a 78 year old record.

The following seasons were fairly mixed with 2001 being a poor season due to his having to spend most of his time on the disabled list due to a rotator cuff injury.

But he rebounded the following season topping the leagues statistics but narrowly missed being selected for the Cy Young Award.

In 2004 the Red Sox won the American League Wild Card and the team's first World Series in 86 years!

After the Boston Red Sox World Series win Pedro Martinez became a free agent and signed a 4 year contract with the New York Mets.

He started the new season with the Mets on form and produced some excellent results until an old nagging injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Pedro's first two seasons with the Mets went really well but halfway through the 2006 season he slipped in the corridor, injurying his hip, after being ordered by the umpires to change his under shirt.

His season and performance became erratic after his injury and he spent much of the remainder of the season on the benches.

The Mets later announced that an MRI exam revealed a torn muscle in his left calf then three days later it was announced that he had a torn rotator cuff.

He underwent surgery that sidelined him for the first half of the 2007 season.

Pedro Martinez also announced that if he failed to return to full strength after his surgery he would probably consider retiring at the end of the 2007 season.

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