Al Martin (martial03)

Albert Lee Martin
born Albert Lee Scales-Martin

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 4", Weight 210 lb.
• High School John A. Rowland High School
• Debut July 28, 1992
• Final Game September 21, 2003
• Born November 24, 1967 in West Covina, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Al Martin is the nephew of Rod Martin, a two time Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He preferred to be called "Al" rather than his given name, "Albert," because he felt Albert was "too nerdy."

Martin was an 8th round draft choice by the Atlanta Braves in the 1985 amateur draft and subsequently spent six seasons in their minor league system, including three consecutive years (1987-1989) in A ball. He slashed a combined .264/.338/.427 in the Braves chain, spending his final year, 1991 split between AA (86 games) and AAA (44 games).

After that season, he signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs fitted him for contact lenses and he began seeing the ball at the plate much better. In 1992, he slashed .305/.363/.557 for their AAA Buffalo Bisons and struck out fewer than 100 times for the first time since 1988 in A ball. He was called up to the big leagues for two pinch hitting appearances in July, then was brought back for good in mid-September. Outside a brief rehab assignment in 1997, he never returned to the minor leagues.

He was a regular in 1993. Slashing .281/.338/.481 and driving in 64 runs for a team that was 10th in the National League in runs scored, Martin placed 5th in the Rookie of the Year voting as the Bucs' left fielder. (He also filled in for Andy Van Slyke in center field while Van Slyke was on the disabled list.)

He continued to put up solid batting averages for Pittsburgh through 1997, and hit 40 doubles in 1996, which may have been his best season. Those 40 doubles were a career high, and he his highest batting average (.300) came that year, as did his career highs in RBI (72), walks (52) and stolen bases (38).

While 1998 was a down year (.238/.296/.364), he rebounded in 1999 with a career high 24 home runs, accompanied by 36 doubles and a .277/.337/.506 slash line; this was the only season in which he slugged better than .500.

That was his last season with Pittsburgh, as he was traded to the San Diego Padres the following February for pinch hitting specialist John Vander Wal and two minor leaguers. The Padres were just one year removed from a World Series appearance, but were under .500 and in last place on July 31, 2000. The Padres sent him to the Seattle Mariners for John Mabry and Tom Davey. He was in the midst of a very solid season in San Diego, hitting .306 with 11 round-trippers and 13 doubles in 93 games, but struggled in Seattle as a part-time player, only amassing a .231 batting average, but with 4 home runs and 4 triples in 134 at bats. His first game with the M's was a memorable one - a 19-inning marathon against the Boston Red Sox which Mike Cameron ended with a home run off former Mariner Jeff Fassero.

He was a member of the great 2001 Mariners squad, when he shared field duties with Stan Javier and Mark McLemore. He again struggled, slashing .240/.330/.382. He did drive in 42 runs in 100 games.

A free agent after the season, he didn't sign until February 8, 2002, when the St. Louis Cardinals gave him a shot. However, he was released at the end of spring training and didn't play that season.

Martin signed a deal with the Florida Marlins on February 13, 2003, but they also cut him at the end of training camp. However, the very next day, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays inked him to a deal and placed him on their opening day roster. At 35 and his best days behind him, he put up a .252/.306/.357 slash line in 100 games, mostly as a designated hitter.

He moved over to the KBO in 2004, his swan song season, playing 107 games for the LG Twins, during which he slashed .291/.383/.433.

Notable Achievements

• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1999)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1996)