Tippy Martinez
The left-handed reliever who picked off three runners in one inning and anchored the 1983 Orioles bullpen.
Felix Anthony "Tippy" Martinez, born May 31, 1950, was an American professional baseball left-handed pitcher who competed in Major League Baseball for 14 seasons between 1974 and 1988. While he began his career with the New York Yankees as a free agent in 1974, the majority of his tenure (1976–1986) was spent with the Baltimore Orioles. Acquired in a pivotal trade on June 15, 1976, Martinez became part of the core that sustained the team's competitiveness for a decade, culminating in the 1983 World Series championship.
- Position
- Left-handed pitcher
- Affiliation
- Baltimore Orioles (1976–1986)
- Key Era
- 1976–1988
- Status
- Retired
- Notable Skill
- Relief pitching, Pickoffs
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Martinez arrived in Baltimore on June 15, 1976, alongside Rick Dempsey and Scott McGregor in a blockbuster trade that sent Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Elrod Hendricks, Grant Jackson, and Jimmy Freeman to the Oakland Athletics. This trio formed a nucleus that kept the Orioles as perennial contenders for the next decade. A grassroots fan club called "Tippy's Tweeters" formed near the left-field bullpen at Memorial Stadium in 1980; fans would blow on official Oriole Tweeters whenever Martinez entered a game or struck out the side. His most legendary moment occurred on August 24, 1983, during a ten-inning contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. With reserve infielder Lenn Sakata catching due to substitutions in the ninth inning, three consecutive Blue Jays hitters—Barry Bonnell, Dave Collins, and Willie Upshaw—took large leads attempting to steal. Martinez picked off all three baserunners in that single frame. The Orioles eventually won 7–4 on a home run by Sakata in the bottom of the tenth, with Martinez earning the victory.
In Their Own Story
The 1983 postseason was defined by Martinez's clutch performances. On September 25 at Milwaukee County Stadium, he was on the mound when the Orioles clinched the division title with a 5–1 victory over the Brewers. Just weeks later, in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, he secured the pennant for Baltimore. His career concluded in 1988 with the Minnesota Twins after 14 total MLB seasons. Throughout his tenure, Martinez posted a lifetime record of 55 wins and 42 losses with an ERA of 3.45 and recorded 115 saves. Following his playing days, he transitioned to coaching, becoming the pitching coach for the York Revolution in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in December 2006.
Reader's Guide
For fans tracking Martinez's career trajectory, the key dates are May 31, 1950 (birth), 1974 (Yankees debut), and June 15, 1976 (trade to Orioles). His role was strictly that of a relief pitcher. The trade that defined his career involved five players leaving Baltimore for five arriving, including Dempsey and McGregor who joined him in the core group. His statistical peak includes the 1983 season where he achieved both a save and a win in critical playoff games while contributing to the World Series title. He finished with exactly 55 wins, 42 losses, an ERA of 3.45, and 115 saves.
Did You Know?
- Martinez was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 35th round of the 1969 amateur draft but did not sign.
- In a single inning on August 24, 1983, he picked off three consecutive baserunners (Bonnell, Collins, and Upshaw) against the Toronto Blue Jays.
- A fan club called "Tippy's Tweeters" formed in 1980 where fans blew whistles when he entered games or struck out batters.
- He earned both a win and a save during the 1983 playoffs, helping clinch the division title and the American League pennant.
- After his playing career ended in 1988 with the Minnesota Twins, he became the pitching coach for the York Revolution in December 2006.
More in Legendary Players
Related in Baltimore Orioles
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