Year Inducted: 1997
Nominated By: Joe Bonaquista (teacher/coach)
Sports Competed In: Baseball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete
Michael D. Martinez
Before High School:
Played baseball as a pitcher for the following leagues: Cub Scouts (1966-68), Old Timers (1968-72), Pueblo City (1970-72) and Babe Ruth (1973-75)...Played quarterback four seasons in Bantam Football League (1968-71) and at St. Leanders for two years (1972-73).
Achievements:
High School:
● Only basketball accomplishment was leading the Eagles to a Class AAA State Runner-up in 1976 (the team was ranked #1 going into tournament).
● On the Eagles junior varsity (JV) team, Martinez recorded a perfect 6-0 record and had a .540 batting average at the plate.
● Posted a shut-out of Air Academy (6-0) allowing four hits and striking out seven while batting .540 against the Cadets (1976).
● Led East to a 14-5 record during the 1977 season.
● Pitched 11 innings, recording 18 strikeouts in a game against Air Academy and posted a five-hit shut-out of Mitchell, striking out nine batters in a 2-0 win.
● Selected as the McDonald’s High School "Player-of-the-Year" and to the Colorado All-State High School team as a pitcher.
● Named the All South Central League "Player-of-the-Year" (senior year: 1978).
● Named to the All South Central League Team as a pitcher (Senior Year: 1978).
● He recorded a 9-3 record (0.88 ERA) for the Eagles during senior season.
● Senior season highlights included: A no-hitter (first in East High History) 11 Strike-outs, 2 walks, 2 East errors, (18-0), (83 pitches) game called in 5 innings against Harrison H.S.
● Recoded 16 strikeouts, 2 hits against Wasson H.S. and posted his third straight shut-out against Coronado H.S., allowing two hits and hit a home run in a 24-0 win at Wasson Park.
● Named to the North High School All-American Team as a pitcher.
● Career pitching record at East was 30-6.
● Recorded more than 300 strike-outs in three years and was recruited by more than 25 colleges and universities as well as nine professional baseball organizations.
● During the summer after his senior year at East, pitched a two-hit shut-out against Woodward, OK on 91 pitches for the Post 203 American Legion team (9-0 win).
Related Activities:
● Spent seven years playing basketball in the Pueblo City league as a forward (1970-77).
● Played on several professional baseball farm teams as a pitcher for three years and two months:
- Helena Phillies (1978); Bend, OR Phillies (1979); Tampa Tarpons (1980) and the Indianapolis Indians (2 months from 1980-81).
● While on the Helena Phillies farm team, he threw the first-ever shut-out by a pitcher in team history on July 31, 1978.
● Returned to Pueblo and played as a catcher in softball, making the All-Tournament team at the KOA Invitational (1982).
● Also played behind the plate and named the "Most Valuable Player" at the Pueblo Handicapped Children’s softball tournament (1982).
Honors:
● Won the city Punt, Pass and Kick competition three consecutive years (1968-70).
● Named the 1975 "Athlete-of-the-Year" for the Babe Ruth League and led his team to the City Team Championship pitching a five-hitter in a 7-6 win (National Division vs. American Division).
