Let the great DH debate begin
With the retirement of Frank Thomas on Friday afternoon, there are a lot of baseball writers that are ready to put the former Chicago White Sox designated hitter on the fast track to the Hall of Fame.
Considering that Edgar Martinez has been waiting a few years longer, maybe they should weigh the options between the two players.
THOMAS WAS a consistent force for the White Sox in the 90s at first base before injuries began to take their toll and was relegated to DH in his final years for the team.
When the White Sox won the World Series, Thomas spent most his time in the Series on the sidelines, once again hurt and unable to play a key role for the team.
When healthy, the White Sox were up and down, with only a few playoff appearances to show for his time in Chicago. Thomas had a falling out with his general manager and spent his final two seasons in Toronto and Oakland.
MEANWHILE, MARTINEZ was quietly among the top hitters in the league for the Mariners during his career.
Like Thomas, Martinez spent his early career as an infielder before moving to DH in 1995 after missing the previous year due to injury. He is the only DH to win the batting title, with a .356 average in 1995, adding to an already impressive list of accomplishments for Seattle.
Martinez helped take the Mariners to four playoff appearances, three of which led to the American League Championship Series, but never a World Series.
Unlike Thomas, Martinez retired from the Mariners without a World Series ring and will most likely be out of Cooperstown for a few more years.
HOWEVER, IF they judged a player by what they’ve meant to their community, Martinez shouldn’t be waiting much longer.
Arguably one of the best Mariner hitters of all time, Martinez delivered a hit that forever changed the Seattle baseball landscape.
Struggling for years as a team, a double off the New York Yankees’ Jack McDowell lifted the Mariners to the ALCS in their first playoff appearance in 1995. Had Martinez failed to get a hit, you could probably say that a legislative bill to get Safeco Field built may not have passed, and the M’s would be playing somewhere other than Seattle.
Thomas may have done plenty to help his community also, but considering the impact that Martinez has made, it’s pretty hands down who should be getting the call first.
Thomas was great in Chicago, but Martinez may have saved professional baseball in the Pacific Northwest.
If I had a vote, I’d give it to Edgar.
Jason Elliott is a correspondent for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached via telephone at 664-0239 or by e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.