Juan Martínez (Costa Rica)

Juan Antonio Martínez Conejo (El Zurdo de Oro)

• Throws Left

• Born June 13, 1954 in San José Costa Rica
• Died April 19, 2007 in San José Costa Rica

Biographical Information

Juan Martínez pitched in Costa Rica's top league from 1971-1992 for Super Gas, Glidden, Datsun 120Y, Piratas, Black & Decker, Firestone y Consorcio and Especialidades Químicas. He set records for strikeouts in a game (22, 1976) and season (215, 1977), ERA in a season (0.82, 1975) and wins in a season (1981). His teams won eight pennants and finished second six times. He was 133-50 in his career. He was named Costa Rica's best baseball player five times between 1974 and 1980 and was the country's Athlete of the Year in 1976. He was named the baseball player of the decade for both the 1970s and 1980s.

He pitched for the Costa Rican national team in the 1972 Amateur World Series, 1973 Amateur World Series, 1977 Central American Games, 1986 Central American Games (a Silver, their best finish in a Central American Games through 2020) and 1990 Central American Games.

Source: Diario Extra