Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martinez (65.5 WAR)
Edgar Martinez didn’t have the name recognition that Griffey had, but for some fans in the northwest (me included), thought he would be at the top of this list. He was reliable, consistent, and dependable, which reads like the comments on the report card of the best student in the class but are true of Edgar Martinez.
If the Seattle Mariners didn’t keep him at Triple-A way too long, he would easily be the franchise leader in WAR. As it was, Edgar didn’t get a full season in the major leagues until he was 27 years old because the team inexplicably thought Jim Presley was better. Once he made it to the Mariners for good, Edgar was incredible.
Edgar Martinez had a 10-year peak from 1992 to 2001 during which he hit .325/.435/.558, with a 158 wRC+ (58 percent better than the average hitter after league and ballpark effects are taken into account). There were only three hitters better than Edgar during this stretch: Barry Bonds (181 wRC+), Mark McGwire (174 wRC+), and Frank Thomas (162 wRC+).
It was during this time that Edgar Martinez hit what is known simply as “The Double” in Seattle. This was in the final game of the 1995 ALDS against the New York Yankees. Edgar came up with the team trailing by a run and runners on first and third.
He ripped a ball to left field to score Joey Cora with the tying run and Ken Griffey, Jr. from first with the winning run. The picture of Griffey at the bottom of the pile is iconic, but it was Edgar who made it happen. It is still considered the biggest hit in franchise history.
During Edgar Martinez Weekend last summer, Edgar became the second Mariner to have his number retired (Griffey was the first). I was at that game in which his jersey officially joined those of Jackie Robinson and Ken Griffey, Jr. in a place of honor at Safeco Field. His speech was terrific, from his acknowledgment of the supportive fans in Seattle to the inappropriate gesture by Jay Buhner while Edgar Martinez was speaking. He is currently the team’s hitting coach.