Edgar Martinez

Edgar Martínez is a business professional, humanitarian, and retired Major League Baseball All-Star. His grandparents raised him in the Maguayo neighborhood of Dorado, Puerto Rico. From an early age, Edgar developed an interest in baseball, inspired by the athletic prowess of fellow Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente.

His adept skills on the field caught the attention of Seattle Mariners scout Marty Martinez. In 1982, Martínez signed with the Mariners as an undrafted free agent and made his Major League debut on September 12, 1987. In 1990, he secured his position as the Mariner’s regular third baseman, and by 1992, he had won the first of two American League batting titles. Along with his two American League batting titles, Martínez was a seven-time MLB All-Star and received the Silver Slugger Award five times.

Highlighting his career was his performance in the 1995 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, where he hit .571, reaching base 18 times over 5 games. In Game 4, he hit a three-run homer and a grand slam en route to an 11-8 Mariners victory. His two-run double off Jack McDowell in the decisive game five, referred to as “The Double” by Mariners fans, is considered a defining moment in his career. This impressive performance played a pivotal role in gaining public support for funding a dedicated baseball stadium in Seattle.

After retiring as a player in 2004, Martínez served as the Mariners' hitting coach from 2015 to 2018 and currently works as a hitting advisor. His contribution to the team was recognized in 2017 when the Seattle Mariners retired his number 11 jersey. He was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame, the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Martínez and his wife, Holli, have dedicated numerous hours and resources to humanitarian causes. They have extended their support to Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Overlake Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wishing Star Foundation, United Way, Esperanza, Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Mariners Care.

In addition to his sports career and humanitarian work, Martínez also cofounded Plaza Bank, Washington State’s first Hispanic bank, and Branded Solutions by Edgar Martínez, a corporate merchandise company that integrated with Image Source in 2010. He continues to be active in the company while serving on the board.

Martínez and Holli now reside in Bellevue, Washington, with their three children. After returning to college, they founded The Martinez Foundation in 2008 to prepare and support diverse and highly qualified teachers who will raise expectations, accelerate learning, and close the educational achievement gap.