The back: There have now been 15 major leaguers from Nicaragua, the most recent being Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisaga.
The player: Martinez came up with the Orioles and had several up-and-down seasons. A high point was 1981, leading the AL with 14 wins in the strike-shortened season. A low point was being left off the postseason roster in 1983 due in part to his alcoholism. Martinez got sober after that season and was traded to the Expos in 1986, where he got himself together and became a star at age 33. His best season was 1991, when he led the NL with a 2.39 ERA, 9 complete games and 5 shutouts, including a perfect game. He signed with the Indians after the 1994 season, and at age 41 in 1995 he went 12-5 with a 3.08 ERA to help Cleveland win the pennant. He retired after the 1998 season at the age o f 44. Overall in 692 games he went 245-193 with a 3.70 ERA.
The man: Martinez did some coaching at the major and minor league level, and managed Nicaragua in the 2013 WBC. Martinez's nickname came from his popularity in his native country. Nicaragua's President since 2007 is dictator Daniel Ortega. In 2022 Ortega had Martinez's name removed from the stadium named for the pitcher in 1998 after Martinez criticized the president.
My collection: I have 150 of his cards, from 1977 to 1998. I would be interested in trading for 1979 Hostess #32.
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