Jerry Martin (baseball)
| Jerry Martin | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: May 11, 1949 Columbia, South Carolina | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| debut | |
| September 7, 1974, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last appearance | |
| September 19, 1984, for the New York Mets | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .251 |
| Home runs | 85 |
| Runs batted in | 345 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Jerry Lindsey Martin (born May 11, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of major league pitcher Barney Martin.
Martin was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and attended Furman University in Greenville. He starred in basketball, and was selected to the All-Southern Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player[2] in 1971 after leading the Furman Paladins to their first conference championship.[3] He signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 17, 1971. Over the span of his 11-year career, Martin played for a total of five teams: the Philadelphia Phillies (1974–1978), the Chicago Cubs (1979–1980), the San Francisco Giants (1981), the Kansas City Royals (1982–1983), and the New York Mets (1984). The right-handed hitting Martin was almost exclusively an outfielder during his big league career.
Infamy
In October 1983, Martin, along with teammates Willie Wilson, Vida Blue and Willie Aikens, was arrested and charged with attempting to purchase cocaine. All four pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug charges and were sentenced to 180 days at a Florida minimum security prison, served time at Fort Worth, Texas, Federal Correctional Institution, becoming the first active major leaguers to serve jail time. The group was released from prison after serving only 90 days. Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn subsequently suspended all four for the entire 1984 season, but the suspensions were reduced after appeal and the four were allowed to return to their teams on May 15.
Coaching career
Martin is now the hitting coach for the Erie SeaWolves, the Detroit Tigers' AA affiliate. Retired end of 2012 season and went home to South Carolina to hunt and fish.
See also
References
- ^ "Furman Athletic Hall of Fame". 1982.
- ^ "Furman Faces Fordham in NCAA Playoffs Today". The Post and Courier. March 13, 1971.
- ^ Leslie Timms (March 7, 1971). "Jackson, Martin Spark Furman to First Southern Title, 68-61". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
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- 1949 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from South Carolina
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Philadelphia Phillies players
- Chicago Cubs players
- San Francisco Giants players
- Kansas City Royals players
- New York Mets players
- Baseball players suspended for drug offenses
- Furman Paladins baseball players
- Major League Baseball players suspended for drug offenses
- American baseball outfielder, 1940s birth stubs