Pedro Martinez: A Hall of Fame tribute

His 1999-2000 seasons might be the two best seasons, back-to-back, in major league history. His numbers during those two years would have been great during the dead ball era, but he put them up in the steroid era, perhaps the greatest offensive span in history.

During his prime, a case could be made that Pedro had the best fastball, the best curveball and the best changeup in the game. I'm not sure any other pitcher has ever had the three best pitches in the game at any one time.

Pedro is probably one of the 15 greatest pitchers ever, and that greatness came from many places, including his competitiveness. He would do anything to beat you. Also, he has the longest fingers you'll ever see on someone who is barely 6 feet tall. Those exceptionally long digits allowed him to get the perfect grip on the ball. But his greatness is due mostly to the fact that he simply had a God-given ability to throw a baseball. He once told me that during his first year in the minor leagues he weighed all of 138 pounds -- and threw 93 mph.

That is amazing. He was amazing.

--Tim Kurkjian

HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• Eight-time All-Star selection
• Won NL Cy Young in 1997, AL Cy Young in 1999 and 2000
• Won World Series with 2004 Red Sox  
• Had 46 career complete games
• MLB All-Star Game MVP (1999)
• Five 20-win seasons
• Five-time MLB ERA champion (1997, 1999-2000, 2002-2003)
• Three-time AL strikeout champion (1999-2000, 2002)

PEDRO'S FIVE GREATEST GAMES

1. 1999 ALDS Game 5: In one of the best pitching performances in postseason history, Pedro threw six no-hit innings in relief as the Sox beat the Indians in the winner-take-all game. Martínez had lasted only four innings in Game 1 before leaving with a back injury, which also kept him from starting Game 5 in Cleveland. But things got desperate with the score tied 8-8 after 3 1/2 innings. Although a weakened Martínez didn't have his typical velocity, he used his command and guile to stifle the Indians and will the Sox to the ALCS.

2. 2004 World Series Game 3: By the storybook 2004 season, Pedro's most dominant days with the Sox were behind him. But in his first start on the game's biggest stage, Martínez looked like his old self, allowing just three hits and no runs over seven innings against the Cardinals in St. Louis to give the Sox a commanding 3-0 series lead. One night later, the Red Sox were world champions.

3. Sept. 10, 1999: How good was Pedro Martínez on this night? He even won over Yankee Stadium in one of the greatest games ever pitched at the hallowed ballpark. Pedro struck out 17 and allowed just one hit -- a solo homer by Chili Davis -- in an absolutely masterful and mesmerizing performance. So much so that the Yankee Stadium fans eventually cheered on the untouchable Martínez as the K's piled up.

4. 1999 ALCS Game 3: One of the most hyped games in the history of Fenway Park, the "Game of the Century" pitted Martínez against hero-turned-villain Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees. While the Sox's knocking Clemens out in the third inning and the fans' razzing him grabbed the spotlight, Pedro was brilliant, striking out 12 and allowing just two hits over seven shutout innings. Alas, the 13-1 win was the only Sox victory of the series.

5. 1999 All-Star Game: With the All-Star Game at Fenway Park for the first time in 38 years, Pedro appropriately got the start after a dominant first half (15-3, 2.10 ERA, 184 Ks). After an emotional pregame ceremony that featured an appearance by Ted Williams, Pedro electrified the Fenway crowd by fanning five of the six batters he faced -- Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell -- while becoming the first pitcher to strike out the side to start an All-Star Game.

HALL OF FAME GALLERY

See more photos of Pedro Martinez and the other three members of the 2015 HOF class. Launch gallery »

PEDRO IN HIS OWN WORDS