Speed Martin
Born: 9/15/1893 in Wawawai, WA, USA
Died: 6/14/1983 in Lemon Grove, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1917-07-05 | Final Game: 1922-04-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Elwood Good Martin
Biography
Speed Martin was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1917 to 1922. Born in 1893, Martin emerged during a transitional period in the sport, coming into the league just as the deadball era was giving way to a more offensively oriented game. Over the course of his career, he compiled a win-loss record of 29-42 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.78. His ability to strike out batters was notable, as he recorded a total of 207 strikeouts, alongside six saves, showcasing his effectiveness as a reliever during a time when the role was still evolving.
Martin's playing style was characterized by a strong competitive spirit and a commitment to his craft on the mound. While he faced challenges in his win-loss record, his resilience and skill contributed to his reputation among contemporaries. His contributions to the game during the early 20th century reflect the broader changes in baseball as it began to embrace more dynamic offensive play and the emergence of specialized pitching roles. Although his career was relatively brief, Speed Martin's time in Major League Baseball remains a testament to the enduring legacy of pitchers who shaped the game in its formative years.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 42 | 126 | 63 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 592.3 | 645 | 249 | 16 | 191 | 207 | 3.78 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | SLA | AL | 0 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.7 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5.74 | 39.8 |
| 1918 | CHC | NL | 5 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 53.7 | 47 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 1.84 | - |
| 1919 | CHC | NL | 8 | 8 | 35 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 163.7 | 158 | 45 | 52 | 54 | 2.47 | - |
| 1920 | CHC | NL | 4 | 15 | 35 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 136.0 | 165 | 73 | 50 | 44 | 4.83 | - |
| 1921 | CHC | NL | 11 | 15 | 37 | 28 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 217.3 | 245 | 105 | 68 | 86 | 4.35 | - |
| 1922 | CHC | NL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 7.50 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 180 | 10 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 44 | 0.194 | 0.220 | 0.261 | 0.482 | -350.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | SLA | AL | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1918 | CHC | NL | 9 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.188 | 0.0 |
| 1919 | CHC | NL | 35 | 44 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1920 | CHC | NL | 35 | 44 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0.159 | 0.0 |
| 1921 | CHC | NL | 37 | 73 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0.233 | -350.7 |
| 1922 | CHC | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 126 | 0 | 31 | 191 | 10 | 6 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | SLA | P | 9 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1918 | CHN | P | 9 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| 1919 | CHN | P | 35 | 0 | 9 | 53 | 3 | 3 |
| 1920 | CHN | P | 35 | 0 | 6 | 44 | 4 | 1 |
| 1921 | CHN | P | 37 | 0 | 9 | 65 | 1 | 1 |
| 1922 | CHN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 126 |