Gene Martin Explained

Gene Martin
Position:Outfielder
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Birth Date:12 January 1947
Birth Place:Americus, Georgia, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 28
Debutyear:1968
Debutteam:Washington Senators
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:April 6
Debut2year:1974
Debut2team:Chunichi Dragons
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 13
Finalyear:1968
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Final2league:NPB
Final2date:October 25
Final2year:1979
Final2team:Yokohama Taiyo Whales
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.364
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:1
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:1
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Batting average
Stat21value:.272
Stat22label:Home runs
Stat22value:189
Stat23label:Runs batted in
Stat23value:498
Teams:

Thomas Eugene Martin (born January 12, 1947) is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder who appeared in nine games during the season for the Washington Senators. Born in Americus, Georgia, he attended Dougherty Comprehensive High School in Albany, then was selected by Washington in the third round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood tall and weighed .

Martin, then 21 years old, made the most of his very brief major league career. In his nine appearances in 1968, seven of them as a pinch hitter, he hit .364 with two singles, a double, and a home run in just 11 at bats. His home run was hit September 8 at Yankee Stadium against 1968 American League Rookie of the Year Stan Bahnsen. The solo blast accounted for Martin's lone run batted in.

Martin had a seven-year minor league career, then enjoyed success in Japan, where he played for six seasons (–), five for the Chunichi Dragons, and one with the Yokohama Taiyo Whales. Over the course of his Japanese career, he hit 189 home runs (averaging over 30 per season) while batting .272.

Vietnam War veteran

Martin was drafted into the United States Army in 1965 and became a parachute rigger. In February 1967, he deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[1]

External links

, or Retrosheet, or Pelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)

Notes and References

  1. Ryczek, William J. Baseball on the Bring: The Crisis of 1968 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2017, (print)), p. 80.