Marty Cordova
Encyclopedia
Martin Keevin "Marty" Cordova [cor-DOH-vuh] (born July 10, 1969 in Las Vegas, Nevada
), is an American
former Major League Baseball
left fielder
. He played for the Minnesota Twins
(1995–1999), Toronto Blue Jays
(2000), Cleveland Indians
(2001) and Baltimore Orioles
(2002–2003). Before embarking on a major league career, Cordova played six seasons in the minor leagues.
of the Appalachian League
. After a season in rookie ball Cordova moved up to class A and spent the 1990 season with the Kenosha Twins
of the Mid West League. Cordova would then go onto spend the next two seasons with the Visalia Oaks
of the California League 1991-1992. After spending three years in class A, Cordova made the move up to double A. In 1993 Cordova joined the Nashville Xpress
of the Southern League.
A promising and talented player, Cordova was named the American League Rookie of the Year
in 1995. He took the honor over, among others, Garret Anderson
, Andy Pettitte
, Troy Percival
and Shawn Green
, after hitting .277 with 24 home run
s and 84 RBI
for the Twins. His second season saw career-highs in batting average
(.309), RBI (111), runs
(97) and doubles
(46).
Cordova had the potential to hit for average and power, but was often bothered by back injuries over his career. Between 1997 and 2000, he missed 240 games
while on the injured list. In January 2000, the Boston Red Sox signed Cordova to a minor league contract after he became too pricey for the small-market Twins, especially considering his history of injuries. The 30-year-old, who had been signed to a minor-league contract, asked for his release from the Red Sox before the season even began, clearing the way for him to eventually sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He returned in good form with the Indians in 2001, hitting .301 with 20 home runs, and in 2002, with the Orioles, he belted 18 homers. Then, Cordova missed all of 2004 and appeared in just nine games in 2003 after two operations on his right elbow.
In January 2005, Cordova signed a minor league
contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He retired a day after he was scheduled to report to spring training
.
In a nine-season career, Cordova was a .274 hitter with 122 home runs and 540 RBI in 952 games.
He is also known for having fallen asleep in a tanning bed, which prevented him from playing several day games with the Orioles.
and can be seen in several of White's video blogs. Cordova is also part-owner of a jewelry company that makes UFC-branded merchandise. He was shown on Dana White's video blog trying to enter Canada after he forgot his passport as he flew in Dana White's private jet.
On the morning of Dec. 16, 2010 Ashley McAdam, Cordova's daughter, was heading to Herriman High School just outside Salt Lake City. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a friend that was hit by a truck as it pulled into school. She suffered severe head trauma and is currently in a coma. In addition to the head trauma, she broke her jaw, elbow and thighbone. Cordova and Ashley's mother, Tamara McAdam-Burleigh, have set up a Facebook page titled "Supporting Ashley McAdam," where people can offer support.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
), is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
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 for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1995–1999), Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(2000), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(2001) and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(2002–2003). Before embarking on a major league career, Cordova played six seasons in the minor leagues.
Baseball career
Cordova began his pro career in the minors in 1989 with the Elizabethton TwinsElizabethton Twins
The Elizabethton Twins are a minor league baseball team in Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Minnesota Twins since 1974. The Twins play home games at Joe O'Brien Field...
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
. After a season in rookie ball Cordova moved up to class A and spent the 1990 season with the Kenosha Twins
Kenosha Twins
The Kenosha Twins began play in the Midwest League in 1984 when the club relocated from Wisconsin Rapids. In 1992, the team was sold, and the following year, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where they became known as the Fort Wayne Wizards. They played their home games at Simmons Field, located...
of the Mid West League. Cordova would then go onto spend the next two seasons with the Visalia Oaks
Visalia Oaks
The Visalia Rawhide are a minor league baseball team in Visalia, California, U.S. They are a Class A - Advanced team of the Arizona Diamondbacks operating in the California League and have recently agreed to renew their affiliation through 2012....
of the California League 1991-1992. After spending three years in class A, Cordova made the move up to double A. In 1993 Cordova joined the Nashville Xpress
Nashville Xpress
The Nashville Xpress were a minor league baseball team of the Southern League from 1993 to 1994. They were located in Nashville, Tennessee and played home games at Herschel Greer Stadium, which opened in 1978...
of the Southern League.
A promising and talented player, Cordova was named the American League Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
in 1995. He took the honor over, among others, Garret Anderson
Garret Anderson
Garret Joseph Anderson is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played most of his career with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels...
, Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte
Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...
, Troy Percival
Troy Percival
Troy Eugene Percival is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He gained fame as a closer. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1995-2009 for four different teams, pitching primarily with the California/Anaheim Angels...
and Shawn Green
Shawn Green
Shawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
, after hitting .277 with 24 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 84 RBI
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...
for the Twins. His second season saw career-highs in batting average
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 :...
(.309), RBI (111), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(97) and doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(46).
Cordova had the potential to hit for average and power, but was often bothered by back injuries over his career. Between 1997 and 2000, he missed 240 games
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,...
while on the injured list. In January 2000, the Boston Red Sox signed Cordova to a minor league contract after he became too pricey for the small-market Twins, especially considering his history of injuries. The 30-year-old, who had been signed to a minor-league contract, asked for his release from the Red Sox before the season even began, clearing the way for him to eventually sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He returned in good form with the Indians in 2001, hitting .301 with 20 home runs, and in 2002, with the Orioles, he belted 18 homers. Then, Cordova missed all of 2004 and appeared in just nine games in 2003 after two operations on his right elbow.
In January 2005, Cordova signed a 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...
contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He retired a day after he was scheduled to report to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
In a nine-season career, Cordova was a .274 hitter with 122 home runs and 540 RBI in 952 games.
He is also known for having fallen asleep in a tanning bed, which prevented him from playing several day games with the Orioles.
Post-baseball life
Cordova is a personal friend of UFC President Dana WhiteDana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
and can be seen in several of White's video blogs. Cordova is also part-owner of a jewelry company that makes UFC-branded merchandise. He was shown on Dana White's video blog trying to enter Canada after he forgot his passport as he flew in Dana White's private jet.
On the morning of Dec. 16, 2010 Ashley McAdam, Cordova's daughter, was heading to Herriman High School just outside Salt Lake City. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a friend that was hit by a truck as it pulled into school. She suffered severe head trauma and is currently in a coma. In addition to the head trauma, she broke her jaw, elbow and thighbone. Cordova and Ashley's mother, Tamara McAdam-Burleigh, have set up a Facebook page titled "Supporting Ashley McAdam," where people can offer support.