Edgar Martinez Could Just Hit. Here Are 10 Times He Proved It.

Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin

People might initially look at Edgar Martinez’s career numbers and wonder why someone with 2,247 hits and 309 homers is in the Hall of Fame. What they often overlook is how late his career started compared to others. E-Mart was 27 when he first started playing full-time, about five years later than most superstars begin their careers. Imagine if he had those years back—he likely would have had 3,000+ hits and 400 homers. He has a well-deserved plaque in Cooperstown, and here are 10 reasons why.

The Double: When Edgar Broke the Yankees’ Hearts in ’95

This image is a moment frozen in time for any Mariners fan. They know Edgar’s going to turn on this Jack McDowell offering and lace it down the left-field line. They remember the aftermath of “The Double”: Ken Griffey Jr. sliding ahead of the throw home, then popping out from under a mob of delirious Mariner players with a smile that was visible from space. If they made a movie about this moment, it would be called “When E-Mart and Junior Saved Baseball in Seattle.”

Laser Show in the Kingdome: The Day He Outshone Griffey

There’s no denying that Ken Griffey Jr. was an artist when it came to his swing. It was a thing of beauty, and it produced incredible works. If Junior were Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, E-Mart was the steady pencil artist who had the fundamentals down cold. He might not have been flashy, but he amazed both his teammates and fans alike.

Hitting Streaks and Mustard Stains: Summer of ’95

This year marks 30 years since E-Mart’s amazing ’95 season. Time goes by so fast, doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday that we all were watching him lead the league in so many categories. Who still has their grunge albums?

The “Reverse Splits” Wonder—Outslugging Righties as a Righty

Conventional wisdom says righties struggle against their own kind, but Edgar often laughed in the face of such splits. He consistently punished right-handed pitching to the tune of a .308 career average. Lefties fared no better—he hit .322 against them.

He Took Incredibly Good Care of His Eyes

E-Mart knew his eyes were his most valuable asset. He would do eye exercises—don’t laugh! One thing he used was a set of cards that helped him focus. This helped him read what kind of pitch was coming his way.

Drove Up Pitch Counts With Extended At-Bats

Edgar didn’t just hit—he wore pitchers down. He was a notoriously tough out, driving up pitch counts. Unlike many sluggers, he didn’t strike out much. The only time he broke 100 strikeouts was in his last season, which he should get some grace for—he was 41, after all. Those eye exercises really helped.

He Was An RBI Machine in 2000

Opposing pitchers must have felt like that Bugs Bunny cartoon, with hitters going around the bases like a conga line, when they faced the Mariners in 2000. E-Mart was the leader of that line with 145 RBIs, tops in the Majors. He also scored 100 runs himself, demonstrating the potency of that Seattle team. It wasn’t a fluke—he drove in 116 the next season.

The Grand Slam Heard ‘Round the Puget Sound

Martinez was behind another incredible moment in the ’95 ALDS. He was up against John Wetteland with the bases loaded and a 6–6 tie. His swing produced a smash to dead center, and the usually low-key hitter raised his arms in triumph as he rounded first. The Kingdome had deafening cheers echoing all around the walls.

Seattle’s 300 Club: Edgar’s March to a .312 Career Average

Another reason for his Hall of Fame induction: For over a decade, Edgar was the model of consistency. He joined the rare .300 club, finishing his career at .312. He was a Mariner from the first day until the last swing of his career.

He Was a Doubles Machine

Martinez must have loved that his uniform number was double digits. He hit a lot of two-baggers throughout his career, including 52 in 1995 and 46 in ’92. The legendary hitter could also put it over the fence, with 14 seasons of double-digit homer totals.