Tippy Martinez
Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1974-1988)
Tippy Martinez was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1988 for the New York Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Minnesota Twins, a span of 15 seasons. Across 546 career appearances, he went 55-42 with a 3.45 ERA, 632 strikeouts, and 115 saves. Tippy Martinez was an All-Star. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 5642.8.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 5'10" / 180 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1974-08-09
- Last Game
- 1988-04-18
- Awards
- All-Star
Full name: Felix Anthony Martinez
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | NYA | AL | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.2 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 4.26 | 3.63 (-18%) | 82.4 |
| 1975 | NYA | AL | 1 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 37.0 | 27 | 11 | 32 | 20 | 2.68 | 3.71 (+28%) | -1085.7 |
| 1976 | NYA | AL | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 28.0 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 1.93 | 3.51 (+45%) | -57.9 |
| 1976 | BAL | AL | 3 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 41.2 | 32 | 12 | 28 | 31 | 2.59 | 3.51 (+26%) | 295.8 |
| 1977 | BAL | AL | 5 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 50.0 | 47 | 15 | 27 | 29 | 2.70 | 4.00 (+32%) | 354.2 |
| 1978 | BAL | AL | 3 | 3 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 69.0 | 77 | 37 | 40 | 57 | 4.83 | 3.69 (-31%) | 381.5 |
| 1979 | BAL | AL | 10 | 3 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 78.0 | 59 | 25 | 31 | 61 | 2.88 | 4.00 (+28%) | 3176.4 |
| 1980 | BAL | AL | 4 | 4 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 80.2 | 69 | 27 | 34 | 68 | 3.01 | 3.84 (+22%) | 1369.4 |
| 1981 | BAL | AL | 3 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 59.0 | 48 | 19 | 32 | 50 | 2.90 | 3.58 (+19%) | 253.3 |
| 1982 | BAL | AL | 8 | 8 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 95.0 | 81 | 36 | 37 | 78 | 3.41 | 3.86 (+12%) | 1858.2 |
| 1983 | BAL | AL | 9 | 3 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 103.1 | 76 | 27 | 37 | 81 | 2.35 | 3.87 (+39%) | 930.8 |
| 1984 | BAL | AL | 4 | 9 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 89.2 | 88 | 39 | 51 | 72 | 3.91 | 3.81 (-3%) | -812.4 |
| 1985 | BAL | AL | 3 | 3 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70.0 | 70 | 42 | 37 | 47 | 5.40 | 3.89 (-39%) | -909.0 |
| 1986 | BAL | AL | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16.0 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 5.62 | 3.97 (-42%) | -194.4 |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 18.00 | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 55 | 42 | 546 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 834.0 | 732 | 320 | 425 | 632 | 3.45 | — | 5,643 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | NYA | AL | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1975 | NYA | AL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1976 | NYA | AL | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1976 | BAL | AL | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1977 | BAL | AL | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1978 | BAL | AL | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1979 | BAL | AL | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1980 | BAL | AL | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1981 | BAL | AL | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1982 | BAL | AL | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1983 | BAL | AL | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1984 | BAL | AL | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1985 | BAL | AL | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1986 | BAL | AL | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 15 seasons | 548 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1094 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 256 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Away | 292 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 256 | 437.0 | 366 | 140 | 199 | 329 | 2.88 |
| Away | 290 | 397.0 | 366 | 180 | 226 | 303 | 4.08 |
Last 10 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-04-18 | MIN | NYY | — | 2.0 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988-04-09 | MIN | TOR | — | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988-04-05 | MIN | NYY | — | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-07-13 | BAL | CHW | — | 1.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-07-09 | BAL | KCR | — | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986-06-18 | BAL | DET | — | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-06-16 | BAL | DET | — | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986-06-14 | BAL | NYY | — | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986-06-12 | BAL | NYY | L | 2.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986-06-08 | BAL | NYY | SV | 3.1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | NYA | P | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | NYA | P | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | NYA | P | 11 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | BAL | P | 28 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | BAL | P | 41 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 1978 | BAL | P | 42 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | BAL | P | 39 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 1980 | BAL | P | 53 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 1981 | BAL | P | 37 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | BAL | P | 76 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | BAL | P | 65 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | BAL | P | 55 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | BAL | P | 49 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | BAL | P | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | MIN | P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 546 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Pitcher of the Month | July |
Salary History
Tippy Martinez's recorded salaries total $927,078 over 2 seasons, 1985 to 1986. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Martinez's career ran from 1974 to 1988. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1988.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | BAL | AL | $487,078 |
| 1985 | BAL | AL | $440,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $927,078 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins | CO | 1970, 1971, 1972 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 0.0 | 392 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Tippy Martinez (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Tippy Martinez: the record in brief
August 9, 1974 and April 18, 1988 bracket Tippy Martinez's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. Club by club, the record runs the New York Yankees (1974 to 1976), the Baltimore Orioles (1976 to 1986), and the Minnesota Twins (1988). Martinez, born on May 31, 1950, in La Junta, CO, USA, is listed as a pitcher and batted and threw left-handed. Martinez's listed size is 5 feet, 10 inches and 180 pounds. On the record, Tippy Martinez was born Felix Anthony Martinez.
Across 546 games (2 starts), Martinez recorded 55 wins against 42 losses with a 3.45 ERA. Martinez had 632 strikeouts and 115 saves. That 3.45 ERA compares with a 3.80 league average across the same seasons, 9.2% better. Martinez won 10 games in 1979, the most of any season listed. The strikeout high was 81 in 1983. The most saves in one season was 21, in 1983. In 1983, one of the busiest seasons, Martinez posted a 2.35 ERA; the league figure that year was 3.87. By Pitcher PIV, Baseball Data Hub's measure of run prevention relative to each season's league, Martinez's career adds up to 5,642.8.
The awards table records Pitcher of the Month, in 1982. Martinez's All-Star record, per the bio, is All-Star.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tippy Martinez
- What years did Tippy Martinez play?
- Tippy Martinez played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1988.
- Was Tippy Martinez a pitcher?
- Yes. Tippy Martinez pitched in the major leagues, recording 55 wins and 632 strikeouts.
- What teams did Tippy Martinez play for?
- Tippy Martinez played for 3 teams: the New York Yankees (1974–1976), the Baltimore Orioles (1976–1986), and the Minnesota Twins (1988).
- Did Tippy Martinez win a Cy Young Award?
- No. Tippy Martinez did not win the Cy Young Award.
- What awards did Tippy Martinez win?
- Tippy Martinez was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
- What were Tippy Martinez's career stats?
- In 546 games, Tippy Martinez went 55-42 with a 3.45 ERA, 632 strikeouts, 834.0 innings pitched, and 115 saves.
- How much did Tippy Martinez earn in his career?
- Tippy Martinez's recorded salaries total $927,078 over 2 seasons, 1985 to 1986. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Martinez's career ran from 1974 to 1988. His seasons before 1985 are not included, and no salary is recorded for 1988.
- What was Tippy Martinez's salary?
- Tippy Martinez's last recorded salary was $487,078, in 1986. His highest recorded salary was $487,078, in 1986, and his lowest was $440,000, in 1985. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1986.
- What position did Tippy Martinez play?
- Tippy Martinez played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Tippy Martinez and how much did he weigh?
- Tippy Martinez was listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 180 pounds.
- What was Tippy Martinez's career ERA?
- Tippy Martinez finished with a 3.45 career ERA, going 55-42 with 632 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Tippy Martinez have?
- Tippy Martinez recorded 632 career strikeouts.
- Is Tippy Martinez in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Tippy Martinez has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Tippy Martinez make?
- Tippy Martinez was selected to 1 All-Star Game.