Edgar Martinez

At 20, Ken Griffey Jr. has already experienced much success at the major league level. His Seattle teammate, Edgar Martinez, 27, has had a difficult time even making it in the majors. Griffey and Martinez both had big games Sunday at Cleveland to lead the Mariners to an 8-7 victory in 10 innings. They both hit two home runs.

"There are a lot of different opinions about it. What I think is that the DH makes a daily contribution to the team, just like any position player who plays every day." Edgar Martinez, Seattle Mariner designated hitter, on whether he'll be voted into the Hall of Fame

"There are a lot of different opinions about it. What I think is that the DH makes a daily contribution to the team, just like any position player who plays every day." Edgar Martinez, Seattle Mariner designated hitter, on whether he'll be voted into the Hall of Fame

Two-time American League batting champion Edgar Martinez announced Monday that he would retire at the end of the season, ending his 18-year career with the Seattle Mariners as one of baseball's greatest designated hitters. Martinez, 41, was a seven-time All-Star. He batted over .300 in 10 seasons, and led the league in hitting in 1992 and 1995. Martinez rarely showed emotion on the field, but choked up while calling it quits.

Seattle's Edgar Martinez is moving up the list of career hits and home runs for players who did not play their first full season until after age 26 (no 100-game seasons until age 27): *--* Batter 1st year (Age) Hits Maury Wills 1960 (27) 2,134 Hal McRae 1973 (27) 2,091 Minnie Minoso 1951 (28) 1,963 Jim Gantner 1980 (27) 1,696 Davey Lopes 1973 (28) 1,671 Bill Bruton 1953 (27) 1,651 Frank Malzone 1957 (27) 1,486 Elston Howard 1957 (28) 1,471 Edgar Martinez 1990 (27) 1,430 Brady Anderson

Edgar Martinez, 1992 American League batting champion who has missed 60 games in two stints on the disabled list, returned to the Seattle Mariners' lineup on Wednesday and went 0 for 4. Martinez, who hit .343 last season, sustained a hamstring pull in an exhibition game in Vancouver on April 3. He has appeared in only 19 games this season. First baseman-designated hitter Pete O'Brien was given his outright release to make room for Martinez.

Pedro Martinez gave up three hits in eight innings and struck out 12 Tuesday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Seattle. Martinez (3-0) walked four, improving to 8-0 with a 0.89 earned-run average in eight appearances against Seattle. He reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season and the 73rd time in his career. Rolando Arrojo pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save in four chances.

A Kingdome crowd of 57,180 witnessed the coronation of Seattle Mariner designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who may have gone from baseball's best-kept secret to its best all-around hitter with two sultan-like swings of the bat Saturday.

At the Family Assistance Center housed in Pier 94 along the Hudson River, Edgar Martinez, a 30-year-old native of the Mexican state of Puebla, listens to a Federal Emergency Management Agency official call out the numbers 847, 848 and 849. Martinez glances at the slip of paper in his hand: 1131. "I've been here five hours already," says Martinez, his babyish, deep-brown face under a cap advertising MetLife insurance.

Edgar Martinez, back in Seattle's starting lineup for the first time since April 11, homered and drove in three runs to lead the Mariners over the Oakland Athletics, 7-4, Thursday night at Seattle. The popular designated hitter got a standing ovation from the crowd of 42,159 in the first inning and hit his first home run of the season against Barry Zito in the third.

Edgar Martinez, back in Seattle's starting lineup for the first time since April 11, homered and drove in three runs to lead the Mariners over the Oakland Athletics, 7-4, Thursday night at Seattle. The popular designated hitter got a standing ovation from the crowd of 42,159 in the first inning and hit his first home run of the season against Barry Zito in the third.

At the Family Assistance Center housed in Pier 94 along the Hudson River, Edgar Martinez, a 30-year-old native of the Mexican state of Puebla, listens to a Federal Emergency Management Agency official call out the numbers 847, 848 and 849. Martinez glances at the slip of paper in his hand: 1131. "I've been here five hours already," says Martinez, his babyish, deep-brown face under a cap advertising MetLife insurance.

Gone, gone and gone. Franchise player Randy Johnson. Franchise player Ken Griffey. Franchise player Alex Rodriguez. Gone to Arizona, Cincinnati and Texas. Gone for millions and millions of dollars. Gone and forgotten. Funny how things work out. Edgar Martinez, the 38-year-old designated hitter, the player who can't throw or field or run, he's the one Seattle needed to keep.

Pedro Martinez gave up three hits in eight innings and struck out 12 Tuesday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Seattle. Martinez (3-0) walked four, improving to 8-0 with a 0.89 earned-run average in eight appearances against Seattle. He reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season and the 73rd time in his career. Rolando Arrojo pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save in four chances.

Seattle's Edgar Martinez is moving up the list of career hits and home runs for players who did not play their first full season until after age 26 (no 100-game seasons until age 27): *--* Batter 1st year (Age) Hits Maury Wills 1960 (27) 2,134 Hal McRae 1973 (27) 2,091 Minnie Minoso 1951 (28) 1,963 Jim Gantner 1980 (27) 1,696 Davey Lopes 1973 (28) 1,671 Bill Bruton 1953 (27) 1,651 Frank Malzone 1957 (27) 1,486 Elston Howard 1957 (28) 1,471 Edgar Martinez 1990 (27) 1,430 Brady Anderson

A Kingdome crowd of 57,180 witnessed the coronation of Seattle Mariner designated hitter Edgar Martinez, who may have gone from baseball's best-kept secret to its best all-around hitter with two sultan-like swings of the bat Saturday.

First baseman Kent Hrbek of the Minnesota Twins returned to Minneapolis and will undergo surgery on his right shoulder either Friday or Monday, the Twins said. Hrbek, 32, missed all three games of the Twins' series with the Oakland Athletics that concluded Wednesday. He hasn't played since Sept. 6 because of shoulder inflammation caused by a slight tear in his rotator cuff. The 10-year veteran batted .244 this season, driving in 58 runs. After the All-Star break, he slumped to .

Gone, gone and gone. Franchise player Randy Johnson. Franchise player Ken Griffey. Franchise player Alex Rodriguez. Gone to Arizona, Cincinnati and Texas. Gone for millions and millions of dollars. Gone and forgotten. Funny how things work out. Edgar Martinez, the 38-year-old designated hitter, the player who can't throw or field or run, he's the one Seattle needed to keep.

Edgar Martinez, 1992 American League batting champion who has missed 60 games in two stints on the disabled list, returned to the Seattle Mariners' lineup on Wednesday and went 0 for 4. Martinez, who hit .343 last season, sustained a hamstring pull in an exhibition game in Vancouver on April 3. He has appeared in only 19 games this season. First baseman-designated hitter Pete O'Brien was given his outright release to make room for Martinez.

First baseman Kent Hrbek of the Minnesota Twins returned to Minneapolis and will undergo surgery on his right shoulder either Friday or Monday, the Twins said. Hrbek, 32, missed all three games of the Twins' series with the Oakland Athletics that concluded Wednesday. He hasn't played since Sept. 6 because of shoulder inflammation caused by a slight tear in his rotator cuff. The 10-year veteran batted .244 this season, driving in 58 runs. After the All-Star break, he slumped to .