Héctor Martínez (outfielder)
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Héctor Martínez (May 11, 1939 — December 1999) was a Cuba
n baseball player who played in professional baseball
on the North America
n mainland in 1957–1958, 1960–1964, and 1966–1967, mostly in the Kansas City Athletics'
minor league
system. He was an outfielder
who threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg). During his career, he had two separate trials in Major League Baseball
with the 1962–1963 Athletics, appearing in seven games played
, and making four hits
in 15 at bats. He was born in Las Villas, Cuba
.
Martínez' two most successful professional seasons came with the Albuquerque Dukes
— in 1960, when they played in the Class D Sophomore League
, and 1962, when the Dukes were members of the Double-A Texas League
. In the former season, Martínez batted
.310 and was named the second baseman
of the Sophomore League's all-star team. In 1962, Martínez batted .352 with 68 runs batted in in only 83 games for the TL Dukes.
He made one Major League appearance at the tail end of the campaign, striking out
as a pinch hitter
on September 30. In , he had a six-game May–June tenure with the Athletics, hitting a home run
off Ken McBride
in his second MLB at bat on May 24. Martínez' only three starts as an MLB outfielder came May 24–26, 1963, against the Los Angeles Angels
at Chavez Ravine
. He spent most of that season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers
.
Héctor Martínez died in Cuba in December 1999 at the age of 60. No exact date or place of death is listed.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n baseball player who played in professional baseball
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....
on the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n mainland in 1957–1958, 1960–1964, and 1966–1967, mostly in the Kansas City Athletics'
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system. He was an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 160 pounds (72.6 kg). During his career, he had two separate trials 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...
with the 1962–1963 Athletics, appearing in seven games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, and making four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 15 at bats. He was born in Las Villas, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Martínez' two most successful professional seasons came with the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
— in 1960, when they played in the Class D Sophomore League
Sophomore League
The Sophomore League was a Class D minor league baseball league that operated from 1958 through 1961. In 1956 and 1957 the league was known as the Southwestern League.- Former :...
, and 1962, when the Dukes were members of the Double-A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. In the former season, Martínez batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.310 and was named the second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
of the Sophomore League's all-star team. In 1962, Martínez batted .352 with 68 runs batted in in only 83 games for the TL Dukes.
He made one Major League appearance at the tail end of the campaign, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
on September 30. In , he had a six-game May–June tenure with the Athletics, hitting a 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...
off Ken McBride
Ken McBride
Kenneth Faye McBride is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. The 6'0", . righty was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1954 season...
in his second MLB at bat on May 24. Martínez' only three starts as an MLB outfielder came May 24–26, 1963, against the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
at Chavez Ravine
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. He spent most of that season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
.
Héctor Martínez died in Cuba in December 1999 at the age of 60. No exact date or place of death is listed.