Seizing the stage
Pedro Martinez celebrates his Hall of Fame induction by saluting countryman, dancing,
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. Pedro Martinez turned the Hall of Fame induction ceremony into his personal party Sunday, dancing on stage, with the throng of exuberant fans from the Dominican Republic screaming his name over and over in the thick, hot air.
Martinez, wearing a coat of arms from the Dominican Republic on his right arm and that of the USA on his left, was the last inductee to speak. He twirled his arms and pumped his fist when he walked onto the stage, started dancing to the merengue music, took the microphone and shouted, “Hola!”
Martinez stepped back, smiled and repeated himself, with the crowd of 45,000, including several high-ranking Dominican government officials, cheering even louder.
The party was just starting, and Martinez was the emcee.
Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was passionate, emotional and soulful in his speech, telling his country he wants to be known as a role model, not a Hall of Fame pitcher.
“Look at me as a sign of hope for a Third World country, a sign of hope for a future generation,” he said.
Martinez made sure to represent the Dominican and the USA with his wardrobe, wearing a bright blue jacket with a red, white and blue tie.
“I want to make sure that I recognized both sides,” said Martinez, who has dual citizenship. “I wanted to give America the same props I gave the Dominican Republic, because without America, I wouldn’t be standing in Cooperstown, N.Y, being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Through baseball, I appreciate so much the opportunity America offered for me.”
And, of course, Martinez was comical.
He thanked his former general manager, Dan Duquette, who was with him with the Montreal Ex- pos and the Boston Red Sox.
“He was crazy enough to trade twice for the same little player and both times ended up looking great,” Martinez said. “And he wanted me a third time, but I was too old.
“I thought you were good-looking without me, but I guess I shaped you more.”
He thought the baseball writers carried a grudge when they didn’t vote him as the American League MVP in 2002. “You guys sure made up for it,” he said.
And when Martinez greeted 6foot-10 inductee Hall of Famer Randy Johnson on stage, he said, “My brother from another mother!”
Johnson, who probably had the best line of the day in his own speech, burst into laughter.
“I no longer have a fastball,” Johnson said. “I no longer have a bad mullet. And I no longer have a scowl.”
John Smoltz, who along with Houston Astros second baseman Craig Biggio completed the Hall of Fame quartet, made fun of his own hair, covering up his baldness by donning a long, black wig.
“It’s the only time Greg,” Smoltz said, looking at former teammate Greg Maddux, “you’re not going to be able to talk about my bald head. My brain goes in a lot of different places.”
Smoltz poked fun at his parents, remembering how they taught him to play the accordion and were disappointed when he instead wanted to play baseball.
“They wanted me to be Lawrence Welk at the age of 4,” Smoltz said.
He stopped playing accordion at 7 and picked up baseball, joining his former Braves teammates Tom Glavine and Maddux, who were inducted a year ago.
Smoltz, the first pitcher to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after having Tommy John surgery, used his platform to persuade parents to let their kids play all sports while growing up, believing they are injuring their arms with all the competitive baseball at a young age.
“I want to encourage the families and parents out there,” Smoltz said, “that is something that isn’t normal to have a surgery at 14 or 15 years old. You have time. Baseball is not a yearround sport. You have an opportunity to be athletic and play other sports.”
Biggio, who was moved by the large contingent from Texas attending the ceremony, thanked many of his former teammates and Astros employees, including the late Ken Caminiti, and in particular coach Matt Galante.
It was Galante who worked with Biggio when he was converted from a catcher to a Gold Glove second baseman.
“I’m not here without that man,” Biggio said, who asked the crowd to stand up and cheer him.
Johnson, who has been on seven USO Tours, made sure that the servicemen and troops from the Wounded Warrior Project were treated like Hall of Famers, too, and received standing ovations.
It was the ideal afternoon for baseball, honoring three pitchers whose organizations gave up on them early and a catcher who was forced to switch positions.
“This, in a unique way, is awesome,” Smoltz said. “This is a perfect illustration what our game can be and what it is. Each of these guys have their own story. And when you know what somebody had to do to get to what they did to get there, you have such a great appreciation for it.”
Yet by the end of the long day, it will be remembered with Martinez standing on the stage, calling up Juan Marichal to join him, and presenting him with the Dominican flag. It has taken 32 years for the second Dominican player to reach the Hall of Fame, and Martinez made sure to celebrate the rebirth.
“It occurred to me on Father’s Day (in the Dominican) the Dominican Republic will never have a better image than having me and Marichal clear the way for all of us to Cooperstown,” Martinez said, “and to give them an opportunity to see their first two sons in the Hall of Fame.
“I think it was the greatest gift I could come up with for a Father’s Day in the Dominican and for the Dominican population.”
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