Al Martin
Encyclopedia
Albert Lee Martin is a former professional baseball
left fielder
. He played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball
, mostly for the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He also played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization
.
in Rowland Heights, California, in 1985.
(2000), the Seattle Mariners
(2000–01), and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
(2003). His best season was in 1996 when he hit .300 with 18 home run
s and 72 RBIs
. That year he also stole 38 bases. He played for the KBO's LG Twins
in 2004.
. In 2001, he compared a collision with Seattle teammate Carlos Guillén
to the time he tried to tackle Michigan running back Leroy Hoard
in 1986, when he was playing strong safety at Southern California. In actuality, USC and Michigan did not meet that year, and Martin was an outfielder in the Atlanta Braves
' system at the time. Furthermore, USC has no record that Martin ever attended the university.
In a September 1996 game against the Chicago Cubs, Al Martin spit out a large wad of sunflower seeds immediately after hitting a home run, prompting complaints from several viewers that Martin intentionally vomited on the field (similar to Jay Buhner
).
In 2000, Martin was involved in a domestic abuse incident with a woman named Shawn Haggerty. She told police that they were married. Martin was already married to another woman at the time, making this a case of bigamy
. Martin claimed that he did not realize the ceremony in Las Vegas (with Haggerty) was legally binding.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. He played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, mostly for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He also played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
.
Early life
Martin graduated from John A. Rowland High SchoolJohn A. Rowland High School
John A. Rowland High School is a public high school located in Rowland Heights, California. It is part of the Rowland Unified School District....
in Rowland Heights, California, in 1985.
Professional career
Martin played for four teams in the majors: the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–99), the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(2000), the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(2000–01), and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
(2003). His best season was in 1996 when he hit .300 with 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 72 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. That year he also stole 38 bases. He played for the KBO's LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
in 2004.
Controversies
Martin claimed to have played football at University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. In 2001, he compared a collision with Seattle teammate Carlos Guillén
Carlos Guillén
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter....
to the time he tried to tackle Michigan running back Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard is a retired American football running back who played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL...
in 1986, when he was playing strong safety at Southern California. In actuality, USC and Michigan did not meet that year, and Martin was an outfielder in the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
' system at the time. Furthermore, USC has no record that Martin ever attended the university.
In a September 1996 game against the Chicago Cubs, Al Martin spit out a large wad of sunflower seeds immediately after hitting a home run, prompting complaints from several viewers that Martin intentionally vomited on the field (similar to Jay Buhner
Jay Buhner
Jay Campbell Buhner , nicknamed "Bone", is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He was among the most recognizable players of his day, noted for his shaved head, thick goatee, and patch of pine tar on the right hip of his uniform...
).
In 2000, Martin was involved in a domestic abuse incident with a woman named Shawn Haggerty. She told police that they were married. Martin was already married to another woman at the time, making this a case of bigamy
Bigamy
In cultures that practice marital monogamy, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Bigamy is a crime in most western countries, and when it occurs in this context often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other...
. Martin claimed that he did not realize the ceremony in Las Vegas (with Haggerty) was legally binding.
External links
- Baseball-Almanac.com - statistics page