Dennis Martinez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Martínez's path to the majors started on December 10, 1973, when he was scouted for $3,000 (equivalent to $21,758 in 2025). After three years in the minors, he made his debut on September 14, 1976, against the Detroit Tigers at Memorial Stadium. Replacing Dave Pagan in the fourth inning with Baltimore trailing 7–5, Martínez pitched 5+2⁄3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and five strikeouts to secure a 9–7 victory. He faced the Tigers again as an opponent throughout his career, but never played for them. His most defining moment occurred in 1991 with the Montreal Expos when he threw a perfect game. Despite facing challenges like alcoholism early in his career—which contributed to a December 1983 DUI arrest in Baltimore—he overcame these hurdles to become one of the most durable pitchers of his era, finishing his tenure in Baltimore with 108 wins before moving to Montreal.

In Their Own Story

On September 14, 1976, Martínez stepped onto the mound at Memorial Stadium for a historic debut against the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles were down 7–5 when he entered in the fourth inning. He held the line, pitching 5+2⁄3 innings without allowing a run on just four hits and five strikeouts, fueling an eighth-inning rally that won the game 9–7. Years later, his career faced a low point after the 1983 World Series when he was arrested for intoxication following a night of drinking with a friend; the shame of this incident, which reached his children, prompted him to enter rehab and commit to sobriety. His resurgence came in Montreal, where he became an Opening Day starter multiple times. In 1988, facing Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets at Olympic Stadium, he pitched six innings despite a rough outing, showcasing the grit that defined his long tenure with the Expos.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking for Martínez's statistics with Detroit will find none; his MLB career spanned the Orioles (1976–1986), Expos (1986–1993), Indians, Mariners, and Braves. His debut against the Tigers was a highlight of his early years, but he never suited up for them as an employee. Key milestones include his 100th win on June 5, 1985, achieved in a complete game shutout against the California Angels at Memorial Stadium.

Did You Know?

• Martínez was the first Nicaraguan to play in Major League Baseball.
• He threw a perfect game in 1991 while playing for the Montreal Expos.
• He made his MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers on September 14, 1976, earning his first win by pitching 5+2⁄3 scoreless innings.
• After a December 1983 DUI arrest in Baltimore, Martínez entered rehab and committed to sobriety, which he credited with changing his focus on the field.
• He was scouted by Ray Poitevint of the Baltimore Orioles in 1973 for $3,000.