Renie Martin
Encyclopedia
Donald Renie Martin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher
. Martin was drafted twice, by the San Francisco Giants
in 1976 and by the Kansas City Royals
in 1977 to play for them Gulf Coast Royals farm team in Sarasota, Florida
. He later played for the Daytona Beach Islanders
, Jacksonville Suns
, Fort Myers Royals
, Omaha Royals
, and in Phoenix Suns.
gave him a chance to start. He started twenty games, going 10-10 with a 4.39 ERA. He did have two saves that year, also. In 1981, he had arguably his best year, pitching exclusively in relief, but achieving a 2.77 ERA in 29 games. However, the Royals
traded him to the San Francisco Giants
with Craig Chamberlain
, Atlee Hammaker
, and Brad Wellman
for Vida Blue
and Bob Tufts.
Martin spent most of his first year with the Giants
as primarily a mediocre starter (7-10, 4.65 ERA). They moved him to the bullpen the next year, and he spent most of the next two years as a relief pitcher before the Giants
traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies
at the end of August 1984 with Al Oliver
for Kelly Downs
and George Riley
. He continued his role as a reliever with the Phillies
until they released him after the 1984 season. The Royals
re-signed him in 1985, but he never pitched in the Majors
again.
Martin did have some postseason experience. He appeared in three games in the 1980 World Series
for the Royals
, appearing in three games, recording 9 IP, allowing three earned runs. He also appeared in the special Division Series after the strike-shortened 1981 season for the Royals
. In that series, he threw 5 innings allowing only one hit.
in 1990. He finished the season 1-2 with an ERA of 4.44.
inducted Martins in Wilmington, Delaware
.
Early career
Martin played for Dover High School and later attended the University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. Martin was drafted twice, by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1976 and by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in 1977 to play for them Gulf Coast Royals farm team in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. He later played for the Daytona Beach Islanders
Daytona Beach Islanders
Daytona Beach Islanders was the name used by several different minor league baseball teams that have all played in the Florida State League.-History:...
, Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, Fort Myers Royals
Fort Myers Royals
The Fort Myers Royals were a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In 1978 the Royals were brought to Fort Myers, Florida by the Kansas City franchise. This was because Fort Myers served as the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were a Single A Florida State...
, Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, and in Phoenix Suns.
Major League Career
He was called to the majors in 1979 and appeared in 25 games in relief in his rookie year. He finished the year with an ERA of 5.19 with five saves. The next year, the RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
gave him a chance to start. He started twenty games, going 10-10 with a 4.39 ERA. He did have two saves that year, also. In 1981, he had arguably his best year, pitching exclusively in relief, but achieving a 2.77 ERA in 29 games. However, the Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
traded him to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
with Craig Chamberlain
Craig Chamberlain
Craig Phillip Chamberlain is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Chamberlain played for the Kansas City Royals in and .-External links:...
, Atlee Hammaker
Atlee Hammaker
Charlton Atlee Hammaker is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played the majority of his career for the San Francisco Giants from 1982 to 1990. He also played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox...
, and Brad Wellman
Brad Wellman
Brad Eugene Wellman was a Major League Baseball infielder.Signed by the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent in 1978, Wellman would make his Major League Baseball debut with the San Francisco Giants on September 4, 1982, and appear in his final game on October 1, 1989.Wellman's son, Casey...
for Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
and Bob Tufts.
Martin spent most of his first year with the Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as primarily a mediocre starter (7-10, 4.65 ERA). They moved him to the bullpen the next year, and he spent most of the next two years as a relief pitcher before the Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at the end of August 1984 with Al Oliver
Al Oliver
Albert Oliver, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. Over the course of his 18-year career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Texas Rangers , Montreal Expos , San Francisco Giants , Philadelphia Phillies , Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays...
for Kelly Downs
Kelly Downs
Kelly Robert Downs is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics from 1986-1993...
and George Riley
George Riley (baseball)
George Michael Riley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos.-Sources:...
. He continued his role as a reliever with the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
until they released him after the 1984 season. The Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
re-signed him in 1985, but he never pitched in the Majors
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
again.
Martin did have some postseason experience. He appeared in three games in the 1980 World Series
1980 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 14, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Royals jumped on Philly rookie starter Bob Walk early with a pair of two run bombs—one by Amos Otis in the second and another by Willie Aikens in the third...
for the Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, appearing in three games, recording 9 IP, allowing three earned runs. He also appeared in the special Division Series after the strike-shortened 1981 season for the Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. In that series, he threw 5 innings allowing only one hit.
Senior Baseball
Martin was a member of the Florida Tropics in the Senior Professional Baseball AssociationSenior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
in 1990. He finished the season 1-2 with an ERA of 4.44.
After Baseball
After baseball, Martin became a member of the Ferguson Waterworks softball team as pitcher/coach since 1995. He has gone on to be not only one of their greatest players and winningest coaches, but also one of the company's best Salesman. He has reached the President's Club multiple times and plans on retiring back to Delaware in 2010.Awards and honors
In 1995, the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of FameDelaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is a membership-based organization founded in 1976. The organization runs a museum with exhibits at Daniel S...
inducted Martins in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
.