John Martin, baseball player, 1980-1983

John Martin

Born: 4/11/1956 in Wyandotte, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1980-08-27 | Final Game: 1983-10-02

Bats: B | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: John Robert Martin

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Biography

John Martin, born in 1956, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1980 to 1983. Known for his strong competitive spirit and ability to perform under pressure, Martin achieved a win-loss record of 17-14 over his career. He posted an earned run average (ERA) of 3.94, showcasing his capability to limit scoring opportunities for opposing teams. Throughout his time in the league, he recorded 120 strikeouts, demonstrating his skill in overpowering hitters with his pitching arsenal. Martin's playing career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by evolving pitching strategies and the increasing importance of bullpen roles. Despite only having one save to his name, he was valued for his versatility and reliability on the mound. His contributions to the teams he played for during his brief tenure left a lasting impact, as he navigated a landscape increasingly defined by power hitters and specialized relief pitchers. After retiring from professional play on October 2, 1983, Martin's legacy as a pitcher remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
8.0 6.0 0 2.0 1.0 0 0 2.0 2.0 0 0 0.333 0.500 0.500 1.000

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
1943 8.0 6.0 0 2.0 1.0 0 0 2.0 2.0 0 0 0.333 0.500 0.500 1.000

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
17 14 91 32 5 0 1 290.3 255 127 25 95 120 3.94 0

Career ERA 3.94 vs. league average 3.81 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1980 STL NL 2 3 9 5 1 0 0 42.0 39 20 9 23 4.29 3.84 (-12%) -
1981 STL NL 8 5 17 15 4 0 0 102.7 85 39 26 36 3.42 3.58 (+5%) -
1982 STL NL 4 5 24 7 0 0 0 66.0 56 31 30 21 4.23 3.86 (-9%) -
1983 STL NL 3 1 26 5 0 0 0 66.3 60 26 26 29 3.53 3.87 (+9%) -
1983 DET AL 0 0 15 0 0 0 1 13.3 15 11 4 11 7.42 3.87 (-92%) -27.6

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
92 73 4 15 3 1 0 13 0 4 22 0.205 0.244 0.274 0.518 0.0

Career AVG .205 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — 21.3% below league average.

Career OBP .244 vs. league average .324 across their career seasons — 24.9% below league average.

Career SLG .274 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — 28.8% below league average.

Career OPS 0.518 vs. league average 0.709 across their career seasons — 27.0% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1980 STL NL 9 11 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0.273 — — — — 0.0
1981 STL NL 18 33 2 7 2 1 0 8 0 2 14 0.212 — — — — 0.0
1982 STL NL 24 11 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0.091 — — — — 0.0
1983 STL NL 26 18 1 4 1 0 0 4 0 0 2 0.222 — — — — 0.0
1983 DET AL 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 91 32 8 49 2 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1980 SLN P 9 5 0 5 0 0
1981 SLN P 17 15 3 20 0 0
1982 SLN P 24 7 2 8 1 0
1983 SLN P 26 5 3 14 1 0
1983 DET P 15 0 0 2 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 91

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti MI 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978