View source for Buck Martinez

{{short description|American baseball player, manager, and broadcaster}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Buck Martinez
|image=BuckMartinez.jpg
|caption=Martinez in 2009
|position=[[Catcher]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1948|11|07}}
|birth_place=[[Redding, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=June 18
|debutyear=1969
|debutteam=Kansas City Royals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=October 3
|finalyear=1986
|finalteam=Toronto Blue Jays
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.225
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=58
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=321
|stat4label=Managerial record
|stat4value=100–115
|stat5label=Winning %
|stat5value=.465
|teams=
'''As player'''
*[[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1971}}, {{mlby|1973}}–{{mlby|1977}})
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1978}}–{{mlby|1980}})
*[[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|1981}}–{{mlby|1986}})
'''As manager'''
*[[Toronto Blue Jays]] ({{mlby|2001}}–{{mlby|2002}})
}}
'''John Albert''' "'''Buck'''" '''Martinez''' (born November 7, 1948) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[catcher]] and [[manager (baseball)|manager]], and is currently the television color commentator for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]. He played 17 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) with the [[Kansas City Royals]], the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], and the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref name="BaseballReference">{{cite web |title=Buck Martinez Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martibu01.shtml?redir |access-date=January 2, 2016 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> Since the end of his playing career, he has been a broadcaster, working on the Blue Jays and [[Baltimore Orioles]] radio and television broadcasts, and nationally for [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]] and [[MLB Network]]. Martinez managed the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] from 2001 to May 2002 and [[USA Baseball|Team USA]] at the inaugural [[World Baseball Classic]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=MLB on TBS: Buck Martinez |url=https://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,136584,00 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006094209/http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0%2C%2C136584%2C00.html |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |website=[[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]]}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Martinez attended Elk Grove High School, [[Sacramento City College]], [[Sacramento State University]], and [[Southwest Missouri State University]].<ref name="BaseballReference" /> He was originally signed by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] as an amateur free agent before being taken by the [[Houston Astros]] in the 1968 [[Rule 5 draft]].<ref name="BaseballReference" /> On December 16, 1968, the Astros traded Martinez to the [[Kansas City Royals]] alongside Mike Sinnerud and Tommy Smith in exchange for Johnny Jones.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 17, 1968 |title=Royals Trade a Catcher For Three Astro Players |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/12/17/archives/royals-trade-a-catcher-for-three-astro-players.html |access-date=June 4, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Martinez made his major league debut on June 18, 1969, against the [[Oakland Athletics]]. He pinch-hit for [[Ellie Rodríguez]] in the ninth inning, and hit a flyout for the game's final out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 1969 |title=Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals Box Score: June 18, 1969 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA196906181.shtml |access-date=June 4, 2023 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> He played in 72 games with the Royals that season, batting .229 with four home runs and 23 RBI.<ref name="BaseballReference" /> He is mentioned in [[Jim Bouton]]'s 1970 bestseller ''[[Ball Four]]'' as John Martinez, a player Bouton and his Seattle teammates know little about. During a meeting, as Bouton's team is devising strategies to effectively pitch to their opponents, manager [[Joe Schultz]] lacks any concrete suggestions about the rookie Martinez, and famously advises that they just "zitz" him.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hirsch |first=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BmFVEAAAQBAJ&dq=buck+martinez+zitz&pg=PA170 |title=Baseball's Most Bizarre Plays: A Roster of the Odd, the Improbable and the Downright Confounding in Major League History |date=November 22, 2021 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-1-4766-8707-0 |language=en |access-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref>

Over the next few years, however, Martinez developed the reputation of being an offensive liability. He never appeared in more than 95 games during his time with Kansas City, through 1977. In the [[1976 American League Championship Series]], Martinez hit .333 with 4 RBI in five games.

He was traded twice on December 8, 1977, during the [[Winter Meetings]]. He was first sent along with [[Mark Littell]] to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Al Hrabosky]], then to the [[1978 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]] for [[George Frazier (pitcher)|George Frazier]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 10, 1977 |title=Cards Trade Hrabosky To Royals for Littell |pages=13 |work=[[Herald and Review]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-cards-trade-hrabosky-t/109146333/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In the midst of an 18–8 loss to Kansas City on August 29, 1979, Martinez entered the game as the Brewers' sixth pitcher of the day. As a pitcher, Martinez batted in the ninth inning, stroking an RBI single. For Martinez, who played in over 1,000 career games, this game was his lone appearance in the majors as a pitcher.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 29, 1979 |title=Milwaukee Brewers at Kansas City Royals Box Score, August 29, 1979 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197908290.shtml |access-date=January 2, 2016 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>

Martinez was traded to the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in exchange for [[Gil Kubski]] on May 10, 1981.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 12, 1981 |title=Transactions |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/12/sports/transactions-116980.html |access-date=June 4, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He is most remembered for his time in Toronto, where he twice hit 10 [[home run]]s (in 1982 and 1983) and was regarded as a solid defensive catcher.<ref name="BaseballReference" /> During this time, Martinez formed an effective [[battery (baseball)|battery]] with the Blue Jays' ace pitcher [[Dave Stieb]].

Martinez's career took a bad turn when he broke his leg and severely dislocated his ankle in a home plate collision with the [[Seattle Mariners]]' [[Phil Bradley]] at the [[Kingdome]] on July 9, 1985.<ref name="CBC.ca">{{cite web |date=January 6, 2019 |title=Buck Martinez's broken leg and his journey into broadcasting |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/buck-martinez-s-broken-leg-and-his-journey-into-broadcasting-1.4963392 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |website=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref> After the collision, he still attempted to throw out the advancing runner [[Gorman Thomas]].<ref name="CBC.ca" /> When the throw went into left field, Thomas tried to come home.<ref name="SacBee">{{cite news |last1=McDermott |first1=Mark |date=August 9, 2014 |title=Area baseball beat: One memorable play proved how tough Buck Martinez was |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |url=https://www.sacbee.com/sports/other-sports/river-cats/article2606284.html |access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref> However, he was tagged out by a sprawled-out Martinez, who despite having a broken leg had managed to catch the return throw from [[George Bell (outfielder)|George Bell]] on the ground, thus completing a [[Baseball scorekeeping|9–2–7–2 double play]].<ref name="SacBee" />

Martinez was released by the Blue Jays on November 12, 1986, and became a free agent.<ref name="BaseballReference" /> He was immediately summoned for a meeting with team management, and executive vice president [[Paul Beeston]] offered him an opportunity to be a part of the Blue Jays' television broadcast team. Martinez turned down the offer, hoping to instead continue his playing career with another organization. His wife, however, convinced him to call Beeston back and accept the job.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 11, 2017 |title=Buck Martinez Talks Retirement From Baseball and Transition Into Broadcasting |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxxQF0jFM2o |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=Canadawide Sports}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
[[File:Buck Martinez speaking at SABR convention 2014.jpg|thumb|Martinez in 2014]]
After retiring as an active player following the 1986 season, Martinez began his broadcasting career as a color analyst for Toronto Blue Jays games in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kurkjian |first1=Tim |date=July 10, 2012 |title=Buck Martinez is about to take on a brand new role - one he's been rehearsing for his whole life |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/magazine/archives/news/story?page=magazine-20010122-article38 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Eventually, this led to a job with [[The Sports Network|TSN]] in which he was first paired with [[Fergie Olver]].<ref name="Shea">{{cite book |last1=Shea |first1=Stuart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p5QcCgAAQBAJ |title=Calling the Game: Baseball Broadcasting from 1920 to the Present |date=May 7, 2015 |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |isbn=978-1933599410 |page=335}}</ref> When Olver was replaced by [[Jim Hughson]] in 1990, Martinez remained the color analyst.<ref name="Shea" /> The pair of Hughson and Martinez also worked together on a number of [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] telecasts, as well as on [[EA Sports]] ''[[Triple Play Baseball]]'' video game series.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ragals |first1=Dave |date=March 19, 1998 |title=EA Sports turns a Triple Play... again |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9803/20/triple_play_review/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821235437/https://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9803/20/triple_play_review/index.html |archive-date=August 21, 2006}}</ref> Hughson left TSN in 1994, and was replaced by [[Dan Shulman]]. Like Hughson, Shulman also frequently moonlighted on ESPN and eventually joined ESPN full-time, whereas Martinez became manager of the Blue Jays from 2001 to 2002. During his stint on ESPN, Martinez won a [[Sports Emmy Award]] for his work as part of the crew for the broadcast of Cal Ripken's 2,131st consecutive game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Buck Martinez |url=https://www.sacsportshof.com/buckmartinez |website=Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame}}</ref>

For the 2003 to 2009 seasons, he was the color commentator for [[Baltimore Orioles]] television broadcasts, alongside play-by-play announcers [[Jim Hunter (sports broadcaster)|Jim Hunter]] and [[Gary Thorne]] on the [[Mid-Atlantic Sports Network]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schmuck |first1=Peter |date=March 17, 2010 |title=Buck stops here |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2010-03-buck_stops_here-story.html |access-date=January 5, 2012}}</ref> From 2005 to 2009, Martinez was a co-host of [[XM Satellite Radio|XM Radio's]] ''Baseball This Morning'' show on the [[MLB Home Plate]] channel and contributed color commentary for Sunday afternoon games and on [[Major League Baseball on TBS|TBS]], as well as for the network's postseason coverage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blue Jays Broadcasters |url=https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/team/broadcasters |website=[[Toronto Blue Jays]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> In late April 2009, Buck substituted for the ill [[Jerry Remy]] as commentator for the three game [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]]&ndash;[[Tampa Bay Rays|Rays]] series for [[NESN]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilgore |first=Adam |date=April 30, 2009 |title=Remy out for tonight |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/extra-bases/2009/04/30/remy_out_for_to/ |access-date=June 4, 2023 |website=[[Boston.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Martinez returned to the Blue Jays' broadcast booth in 2010, this time as a play-by-play announcer for their sister company and exclusive broadcaster, [[Sportsnet]], replacing [[Jamie Campbell (sportscaster)|Jamie Campbell]], who now hosts the pre-game telecast. His main broadcast partner on Sportsnet was former Blue Jay [[Pat Tabler]]. With Shulman's part-time return to the Blue Jays broadcast team in 2016, Martinez now splits duties between play-by-play and color analyst.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zelkovich |first=Chris |date=December 10, 2009 |title=Buck Martinez returns as Blue Jays TV announcer |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/article/737294--buck-martinez-returns-as-blue-jays-tv-announcer |access-date=January 2, 2016 |work=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> On September 25, 2014, Rogers announced Martinez had signed a five-year extension to remain the play-by-play announcer for Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/martinez-tabler-to-return-for-five-more-years/|title=Sportsnet locks up Blue Jays broadcast duo|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=September 25, 2014|access-date=September 25, 2014}}</ref>

From 2016 to 2020, Martinez participated in the [[MLB International]] broadcast of the [[World Series]] as the color analyst.<ref name="metro-4mill">{{cite web |last=Szklarski |first=Cassandra |date=October 5, 2016 |title=Sportsnet touts four million viewers for Jays vs. Orioles matchup |url=http://www.metronews.ca/sports/2016/10/05/sportsnet-touts-four-million-viewers-for-jays-vs-orioles-matchup.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010025503/http://www.metronews.ca/sports/2016/10/05/sportsnet-touts-four-million-viewers-for-jays-vs-orioles-matchup.html |archive-date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |website=[[Metro International|Metro News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

On April 17, 2022, Martinez announced he would take a leave of absence while undergoing treatment for cancer.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 17, 2022 |title=Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez leaving TV booth for cancer treatment |work=[[CBC.ca]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/buck-martinez-cancer-treatment-blue-jays-1.6422155 |access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> On July 26, Martinez returned to Sportsnet after the completion of his treatment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fraske-Bornyk |first=Ande |date=July 23, 2022 |title=Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez back in the booth Tuesday after completing cancer treatments |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2022/07/23/blue-jays-broadcaster-buck-martinez-set-to-return-to-booth-next-week-after-completing-cancer-treatments.html |access-date=July 25, 2022 |website=[[Toronto Star]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
In 2000, Martinez was hired as Toronto's manager after [[Jim Fregosi]]'s contract was not renewed.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=November 2, 2000 |title=Blue Jays Hire Martinez |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100212&page=1 |access-date=June 4, 2023 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |language=en}}</ref> Martinez's energetic attitude was seen as the right fit for the Jays' young roster and through the first two months of the season Toronto outperformed expectations. The success, however, was short-lived as the team struggled through the remainder of the season and finished a mediocre 80–82. He was fired 53 games into the 2002 season after posting a 20–33 record.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 4, 2002 |title=Blue Jays fire Buck Martinez |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/blue-jays-fire-buck-martinez-1.349252 |access-date=July 19, 2014 |website=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref> At the time he was fired, the Blue Jays were on a three-game winning streak, having just swept the [[Detroit Tigers]]. He was replaced as manager by [[Carlos Tosca]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 4, 2002 |title=American League; Blue Jays Lose Patience with Buck Martinez |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/04/sports/american-league-blue-jays-lose-patience-with-buck-martinez.html |access-date=July 19, 2014}}</ref>

Martinez was selected as the field manager for Team USA in the 2006 inaugural [[World Baseball Classic]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 5, 2005 |title=Buck Martinez to manage Team USA at World Baseball Classic |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/releases/releases.jsp?content=1205c |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411230052/http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/releases/releases.jsp?content=1205c |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[Major League Baseball Players Association]]}}</ref> He led the superstar-laden American squad to the second round. While Martinez wore number 13 as both a player and a manager in the Major Leagues, he wore number 31 while managing in the WBC because [[Alex Rodriguez]] had already been assigned number 13.

===Record===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
! Games !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Finish !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[2001 Toronto Blue Jays season|TOR]]|| {{mlby|2001}}
||162||{{WinLossPct|80|82}}|| 3rd in AL East || – || – || – || –
|-
![[2002 Toronto Blue Jays season|TOR]]|| {{mlby|2002}}
||53||{{WinLossPct|20|33}}|| fired || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|Total||215||{{WinLossPct|100|115}}|| – || {{WinLossPct|0|0}} ||
|}

==Personal life==
Martinez and his wife Arlene have one son Casey, a 47th round pick (1,384th overall) by Toronto in the [[2000 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=martin002cas|title=Casey Martinez Minor League Statistics & History|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=47th Round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2000&draft_round=47&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=June 4, 2023 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> They reside in [[New Port Richey, Florida]].

Martinez has authored three books. ''From Worst To First: The Toronto Blue Jays in 1985'' was published in 1985, ''The Last Out: The Toronto Blue Jays In 1986'' in 1986<ref name="CBC.ca" /> and ''Change Up: How to Make the Great Game of Baseball Even Better'' in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 22, 2016 |title=Why Buck Martinez feels bad for today's baseball players |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-tuesday-march-22-2016-1.3501928/why-buck-martinez-feels-bad-for-today-s-baseball-players-1.3501932 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |website=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref>

Martinez is a member of the [[Karuk Tribe]] of [[northern California]]. His mother, Shirley, was born and raised in [[Happy Camp, California|Happy Camp]], where the Karuk Tribe is centered.<ref>"Karuk Tribal Member Martinez named Team USA Manager." [https://www.karuk.us/images/docs/newsletters/Winter06Newsletter.pdf ''Karuk Newsletter''], Winter 2006, p. 9.</ref><ref>"Buck Martinez Karuk Tribal Member." [https://www.karuk.us/images/docs/newsletters/2017_Spring_Newsletter.pdf ''Karuk Newsletter''], Spring 2017, p. 18.</ref>

In April 2022, Martinez was diagnosed with [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez leaving TV booth following cancer diagnosis |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/blue-jays-broadcaster-buck-martinez-leaving-tv-booth-following-cancer-diagnosis-1.5864738#:~:text=Buck%20Martinez%2C%20longtime%20Toronto%20Blue,begins%20weeks%20of%20cancer%20treatment. |accessdate=May 10, 2022 |website=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> He completed his cancer treatment in June 2022.<ref name="j663">{{cite web | last=Vollmering | first=Karen | title=MD Anderson helps Major League Baseball broadcaster overcome head and neck cancer | website=MD Anderson Cancer Center | date=2022-08-26 | url=https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/md-anderson-helps-major-league-baseball-broadcaster-overcome-head-and-neck-cancer-squamous-cell-carcinoma.h00-159542112.html | access-date=2025-01-19}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{baseballstats|br=m/martibu01|brm=martin026joh|retro=M/Pmartb001}}
{{baseball-reference manager|martibu01}}

{{Toronto Blue Jays managers}}
{{Toronto Blue Jays}}
{{United States roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{United States national baseball team managers}}
{{Toronto Blue Jays Television Play-by-Play}}
{{Major League Baseball on TBS}}
{{ESPN Major League Baseball}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Buck}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Águilas del Zulia players]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles announcers]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni]]
[[Category:Canadian television sportscasters]]
[[Category:Eugene Emeralds players]]
[[Category:Florida Instructional League Royals players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Royals players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:Native American baseball players]]
[[Category:Omaha Royals players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New Port Richey, Florida]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Pasco County, Florida]]
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[[Category:Spartanburg Phillies players]]
[[Category:Tiburones de La Guaira players]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
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[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays announcers]]
[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays managers]]
[[Category:Toronto Blue Jays players]]
[[Category:United States national baseball team managers]]
[[Category:World Baseball Classic managers]]
[[Category:Karuk people]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]