Pedro Martinez, One of the 25, said yesterday that he plans to formally announce his retirement from MLB within the next few weeks. He last pitched for the Phillies in 2009, so I'm surprised it's taken Pedro this long to realize his career was over.
His next stop will be in Cooperstown, New York in the summer of 2015, when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. To honor the Great Pedro, I present this clip from September 10, 1999, when he pitched the greatest game I have ever seen in my life. Pedro was at his all-time best (and should have been MVP that year, as we all know a jackass of a sportswriter left him off his ballot that cost him the award). He beat the Yankees (who just happened to be the defending champions), 3-1, striking out 17. He allowed just a home run to Chili Davis in the second inning, and that was it for New York. The most incredible fact of the night was this: Scott Brosius popped to third base in the fifth inning to start the inning, and he was the last Yankee to hit a fair ball. He retired the following 14 batters in order: 12 on strikeouts, and 2 on foul outs. Simply unbelievable.
Enjoy your retirement, Pedro. And thanks for all the great memories. Especially 2004.
