Speed Martin, baseball player, 1917-1922

Speed Martin

Born: 9/15/1893 in Wawawai, WA, USA

Died: 6/14/1983 in Lemon Grove, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1917-07-05 | Final Game: 1922-04-17

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Elwood Good Martin

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Biography

Speed Martin was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1917 to 1922. Born in 1893, Martin emerged during a transitional period in the sport, coming into the league just as the deadball era was giving way to a more offensively oriented game. Over the course of his career, he compiled a win-loss record of 29-42 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.78. His ability to strike out batters was notable, as he recorded a total of 207 strikeouts, alongside six saves, showcasing his effectiveness as a reliever during a time when the role was still evolving. Martin's playing style was characterized by a strong competitive spirit and a commitment to his craft on the mound. While he faced challenges in his win-loss record, his resilience and skill contributed to his reputation among contemporaries. His contributions to the game during the early 20th century reflect the broader changes in baseball as it began to embrace more dynamic offensive play and the emergence of specialized pitching roles. Although his career was relatively brief, Speed Martin's time in Major League Baseball remains a testament to the enduring legacy of pitchers who shaped the game in its formative years.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
29 42 126 63 30 4 6 592.3 645 249 16 191 207 3.78 0

Career ERA 3.78 vs. league average 3.43 across their career seasons — 10.2% worse than 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
1917 SLA AL 0 2 9 2 0 0 0 15.7 20 10 5 5 5.74 2.69 (-114%) 35.2
1918 CHC NL 5 2 9 5 4 1 1 53.7 47 11 14 16 1.84 2.83 (+35%) -
1919 CHC NL 8 8 35 14 7 2 2 163.7 158 45 52 54 2.47 3.09 (+20%) -
1920 CHC NL 4 15 35 13 6 0 2 136.0 165 73 50 44 4.83 3.45 (-40%) -
1921 CHC NL 11 15 37 28 13 1 1 217.3 245 105 68 86 4.35 4.02 (-8%) -
1922 CHC NL 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 6.0 10 5 2 2 7.50 — -

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
127 180 10 35 7 1 1 12 2 6 44 0.194 0.220 0.261 0.482 -334.4

Career AVG .194 vs. league average .270 across their career seasons — 28.0% below league average.

Career OBP .220 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 33.4% below league average.

Career SLG .261 vs. league average .363 across their career seasons — 28.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.482 vs. league average 0.693 across their career seasons — 30.6% 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
1917 SLA AL 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1918 CHC NL 9 16 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.188 — — — — 0.0
1919 CHC NL 35 44 3 8 1 0 0 2 0 1 15 0.182 — — — — 0.0
1920 CHC NL 35 44 5 7 1 0 1 4 1 3 10 0.159 — — — — 0.0
1921 CHC NL 37 73 2 17 4 1 0 6 1 1 16 0.233 .286 (-19%) .344 (-29%) .395 (-20%) .739 (-25%) -334.4
1922 CHC NL 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 126 0 31 191 10 6

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1917 SLA P 9 0 3 11 1 0
1918 CHN P 9 0 4 18 1 1
1919 CHN P 35 0 9 53 3 3
1920 CHN P 35 0 6 44 4 1
1921 CHN P 37 0 9 65 1 1
1922 CHN P 1 0 0 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 126