TCBA Encyclopedia

Class 6 Hall of Fame Inductees –

Martinez & Schmidt Join the Elite Circle

Dennis Martinez

&

Mike Schmidt

Voting for the TCBA Players’ Hall of Fame concluded this week with two new members being enshrined. Dennis Martinez and Mike Schmidt each received sufficient support to carry them into the circle of TCBA greatness.

The vote for Dennis Martinez was solid, with the stalwart hurler gaining 78.9% of the vote:

Player		Year Inducted
Seaver,Tom	99.8%	2009
Blyleven,Bert	95.2%	2009
Perry,Gaylord	94.0%	2009
Sutton,Don	89.9%	2009
Palmer,Jim	88.8%	2009
Carlton,Steve	88.2%	2009
Niekro,Phil	88.2%	2009
Gibson,Bob	81.5%	2009
Hershiser,Orel	80.0%	2009
Martinez,Dennis	78.9%	2014
Franco,John	76.0%	2009
Ryan,Nolan	75.7%	2009

Source: TCBA Encyclopedia

In his 21-season TCBA career, Martinez pitched for ten different teams. He also spent six seasons (1981-1986) as a league co-op player, during which time he added 37 wins to his career total of 242, 18^th all-time in TCBA.

Martinez is present on many of TCBA’s Top 50 lists, including 35^th in Strike Outs, 43^rd in Shutouts, 15^th in Games Started, and 17^th in Innings Pitched.

In his later seasons, Martinez was often found on the rosters of playoff teams. Dennis helped lead South Starrucca to consecutive league crowns in 1990-91; helped Long Island to a wildcard slot in 1994; led Beacon to the final round in 1995; and helped Hoboken to a wildcard in 1996.

Dennis Martinez won 20+ games four times, including a career high 24 for Hoboken in 1996, a worthy member of the TCBA Hall of Fame.

For Mike Schmidt, the third time was the charm for the newest Hall of Fame member. After failing to reach the requisite 70% vote total in his first two attempts, most recently in the Class 5 voting with 59.7%,Schmidt finally slipped over the bar with 74.9%, the 2^nd lowest total of all Hall of Fame entrants – Eddie Murray entered the Hall with 71.1% in 2009.

Schmidt is certainly worthy of his enshrinement following a 17-season career, during which he belted 432 home runs, tying him for 28^th all-time with Norm Cash. In just his first full season in TCBA in 1976, Schmidt led the league in rbi (139) and homers (45). He would lead the league in homers once again in 1984 with 45 and in walks with 157. In all, Mike would total more than 100 rbi seven times in his TCBA career.

Perhaps most remarkable, Mike retired after the 1990 season having played in every game in a season eight times in his career, 2144 games in all.

CLASS 6 Voting Totals:

Player	702 Needed
Martinez,Dennis	78.9%
Schmidt,Mike	74.9%
Sisler,George	53.1%
Williams,Cy	52.1%
Brock,Lou	41.4%
Eckersley,Dennis	39.1%
Reuschel,Rick	36.7%
Collins,Eddie	34.4%
Groat,Dick	13.5%
Quisenberry,Dan	12.3%
Buckner,Bill	8.1%
Burgess,Smoky	7.7%
Meusel,Bob	7.7%
Scott,George	7.7%
McDowell,Jack	7.7%
Jackson,Larry	7.7%
Walker,Curt	6.1%
Hunter,Catfish	5.5%
Smith,Dave S.	2.3%
Williams,Ken	0.4%
Alexander,Pete	0.4%

Source: TCBA Encyclopedia

Seven players who were on the Class 6 ballot saw their names on the list for the final time. TCBA Hall of Fame rules allow players to be nominated up to four times, as long as they achieve increasing levels of support. Among those who have been nominated multiple times and will no longer be considered for Hall of Fame entry are: Sandy Alomar Sr., Lou Brock, Bill Buckner, Bret Butler, Dennis Eckersley, Catfish Hunter, Larry Jackson, Dan Quisenberry, George Scott, Dave Smith, Ken Williams, and Wilbur Wood.