For 14 seasons, Tippy Martinez provided a connection between Colorado and major-league baseball.
Martinez came out of La Junta and Colorado State to pitch for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins from 1974-88.
It’s easy for Martinez to point to his postseason highlight – he saved two games in the 1983 World Series as the Orioles beat the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.
“The two saves in the same series stand out because they matched what Rollie Fingers did for the Oakland Athletics,” Martinez said. “You remember things like that.”
But for Martinez, the best was the run to the postseason, the pennant race. He also pitched in the 1979 Series, when the Orioles lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games. Martinez won 10 games in 1979 and posted a 2.88 ERA. He also had a league championship series victory in 1983.
“Getting to the postseason is the most fun,” Martinez said. “I remember we beat the White Sox in the last game of the season and that was the ultimate game. I watched the Rockies in the playoff game against San Diego when they beat Trevor Hoffman and I imagine it was the same type thing for them.”
Martinez, who had a career record of 55-42 with 115 saves, lives in Baltimore. While out of baseball, Martinez did some promotional work in the effort to bring major-league baseball to Denver. He joined the Colorado Baseball Commission at the request of co-chairman Sam Suplizio.
This past summer, Martinez returned to baseball as pitching coach for an Independent League team in York, Pa. He’s considering returning to the job next summer.
Irv Moss: 303 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
