The 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - No. 33 - Tippy Martinez

by Scott Christ on Feb 22, 2006 10:16 PM EST in News & Rumors

33. Tippy Martinez, LHP (1976-1986)

All-Star: 1983

Felix Anthony "Tippy" Martinez was born in La Junta, Colorado, on May 31, 1950. He attended Colorado State University, and was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1972. He was in New York for 10 games in 1974, then 23 more in 1975, two of them starts, which were the only two starts he'd ever make. 28 innings into the 1976 season for Martinez, he was sent to Baltimore along with Rick Dempsey and Scott McGregor (as well as Rudy May and Dave Pagan) for Doyle Alexander, Grant Jackson, Ellie Hendricks and Jimmy Freeman. The Yankees got the AL pennant in '76, but Martinez, Dempsey and McGregor paid off down the line for the O's.

Between the O's and Yankees in '76, Martinez put up a 2.33 ERA in 69 2/3 innings, with 10 saves (eight as an Oriole). Martinez served as a set-up man the next few years, saving a few games along the way -- nine in '77, five in '78, three in '79, 10 in '80, 11 in '81. He was a good reliever all of those years except for '78, when he was roughed up pretty badly.

In 1982, he saved 16 games, but it was 1983 that was his best season: 2.35 ERA (168 park-adjusted ERA+), 81 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings, and 21 saves. He made his only All-Star game that season.

Tippy was a World Series champion in '83 and a fan favorite all-around, but it was on August 24, 1983, that Tippy Martinez made his peculiar mark in the 10th inning of a game against the Blue Jays. With infielder Lenn Sakata in as an emergency catcher, Martinez relieves Tim Stoddard with Barry Bonnell on first base. The Blue Jays have obviously been instructed to run on Sakata. Martinez picks Bonnell off. He walks Dave Collins. Picks him off. Willie Upshaw hits a single and gets picked off. Three pickoffs in one inning, and Tippy Martinez is in the record books.

After '83, though, Tippy's decline set in. He had a down year in '84, saving 17 games with a 3.91 ERA, and then was hammered in 49 games in 1985. '86 would be his last season with the Birds, and he was even worse than the year before, but this time pitched just 16 innings. On June 4, 1987, Martinez was released by the Orioles. He attempted a comeback in 1988 with the Twins, which lasted 17 days and four awful innings. At 38, he was done.

FRANCHISE RANKINGS
2nd, Games Pitched (499)
2nd, Saves (105)
1st, Games Finished (298)

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The pickoff game

I watched the pickoff game with my Dad. Not only was Sakata catching, but Roenicke and Lowenstein had moved to play 2nd and 3rd base after the O's tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. The capper was the O's winning on a Sakata 3 run homer in the bottom of the tenth. Here's a link to the box score: Aug. 24, 1983

One of my favorite "drug scandal" quotes came from Tippy.

"As far as the Orioles were concerned ... very few players who used amphetamines - less than five and I wouldn't name them. As a ballclub, we were on our own high; we knew we were going to win two of every three games anyway."

Those were the days....

"Mike will be absolutely in charge." Peter Angelos

by drj on Feb 23, 2006 12:26 AM EST reply actions

I was at that game...

...I still had a full season plan in those days. Altobelli was a really unpopular manager, but he was always willing to use everyone in any game-even to the point of having Lenny catch. I don't know if that's good, but it certainly made things interesting.

I think I remeber Tippy saying he was concerned that Lenny was crouching too far behind the bat and that a curve might wind up in the dirt because of that.

The only comment I have about Tippy's drug comment is that we had our share of players involved at least somewhat in the "Pittsburgh" investigation in the early '80s. I know Stewart and Dauer were both subpoenaed.

That was for coke and not uppers, of course.

by howie14 on Feb 23, 2006 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

Re:

I don't know what the sentiment at the stadium was when the O's took the field in the 10th. I recall my Dad saying something to the effect "well, this is one hell of a line up". We thought the game would soon be over in Toronto's favor.

"Mike will be absolutely in charge." Peter Angelos

by drj on Feb 23, 2006 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

re:re:

The feeling at the Stadium was very much, "What the h___?" I liked that Alto had used everybody to try to win, but figured that it had backfired.

We all went nuts as Tippy picked guys off. The BlueJays always swore he balked every time.

I actually called Phil Wood on the radio to talk about the game that night, and I never call talk shows.

by howie14 on Feb 23, 2006 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

that box score brings back memories...

...i'd forgotten all about benny ayala and "t-bone" shelby.

i wasn't at that game, but i watched it on tv. i remember thinking that the guys were idiots for taking such huge leads. with an inexperienced catcher behind the plate, you'd be able to take less of a lead and still get the swipe. but they just couldn't help their eagerness...

by zknower on Feb 23, 2006 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

It's funny...

I guess it's rose colored glasses, but I somehow remember Tippy being better than his record would suggest. I guess I mostly choose to remember '83.

by rebop on Feb 23, 2006 10:02 AM EST reply actions

re: it's funny

Remember that the role of the bullpen pitcher was in transition then. Tippy was the closer for Altobelli, but he served all roles for Weaver. He was the setup guy sometimes and came in in the second inning other times.

He was really good for a short period of time.

by howie14 on Feb 23, 2006 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

True....

the low number of saves is somewhat deceptive compared to today's gaudier numbers.

by rebop on Feb 23, 2006 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Re: true

Look at the save numbers for the 69-71 teams. Watt and Richert would both get a few during the year, of course, but if Palmer was leading the Twins 4-2 HE went to the mound to start the ninth!

In 1971 with four 20 game winners, we had a team total of 22 saves. Watt, the "closer", had eleven.

by howie14 on Feb 24, 2006 8:32 AM EST up reply actions