Thursday, July 6, 2017

Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s - #12 Manny Martinez

#34
Manuel (de Jesus) Martinez
Outfield

I mean no disrespect to Manny Martinez with this next observation, but if I can't remember one thing about your time with the Phillies, you're truly an obscure Phillies player.  I have zero recollection of Martinez playing with the Phillies for 13 games in July and August 1996.

Claimed off waivers from the Mariners on July 11th, Martinez was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 22nd when the Phillies parted ways with J.R. Phillips.  Over the next four weeks, Martinez started 10 games for the Phillies, with nine starts in right field and one start in center field. He hit .222 (8 for 36) with a pair of triples with nary a home run or RBI in sight.  Sent back to Scranton on August 15th in favor of Wendell Magee, Jr., Martinez's Phillies career was over.

He'd re-appear in the National League a few years later, playing 73 games with the 1998 Pirates and serving as the Expos' regular center fielder in 1999.  Martinez played professional baseball through 2008, making stops in Korea, Mexico and the independent Atlantic League.

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'2"  Weight:  169
Born:  October 3, 1970, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Signed:  Signed by the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent, March 10, 1988.
Major League Teams:  Seattle Mariners 1996; Phillies 1996; Pittsburgh Pirates 1998; Montreal Expos 1999
Professional Affiliations:  Oakland Athletics 1988-1994; Chicago Cubs 1995; Seattle Mariners 1996; Phillies 1996; Pittsburgh Pirates 1997-1998; Montreal Expos 1999; Florida Marlins 2000

Phillies Career
13 games, .222 (8 for 36), 2 triples, 11 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases
Acquired:  Selected off waivers from the Seattle Mariners, July 11, 1996.
Debut:  July 22, 1996 - Started the second game of a double header against the Reds in center field, as the lead-off hitter, going 1 for 4 with a single off Scott Service.
Final Game:  August 15, 1996
Departed:  Granted free agency, October 15, 1996. Signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates, December 19, 1996.

1997 Best Calgary Cannons #17
 
2000 MLB Showdown
1st Edition #271
2000 Pacific #266
 
1 Martinez Baseball Card in My Collection
First Card:  1997 Best Calgary Cannons #17
Last Card:  1997 Best Calgary Cannons #17

Other Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2000 MLB Showdown 1st Edition #271
First Topps Base Card:  N/A
Last Mainstream Card:  2000 Pacific #266
Other Notable Cards:  1990 ProCards #3433, 1996 Best Tacoma Rainiers #17

Sources:  Baseball Reference and The Trading Card Database

Phillies Missing Links of the 1990s
1 Louie Meadows
2 Dave LaPoint
3 Darrin Chapin
4 Mickey Weston
5 Bob Wells
6 Tom Edens
7 Omar Olivares
10 Chuck Ricci
11 Dennis Springer
12 Manny Martinez
13 Rafael Quirico
14 Bronson Heflin
15 Glenn Dishman
16 Rob Butler
17 Mike Robertson
18 Matt Whiteside
19 Robert Dodd
20 Joel Bennett
21 Joe Grahe
22 Domingo Cedeno
23 Torey Lovullo

This is a continuing series looking at those players who spent time with the Phillies but possess no baseball card proof of their time in Philadelphia.  In some cases, the First and Last Mainstream cards listed above have been subjectively chosen if multiple cards were released in that year.

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