Russell Martin

Infobox MLB player
name=Russell Martin


width=180
position=Catcher
team=Los Angeles Dodgers
number=55
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|2|15
birthplace=city-state|East York|Ontario
debutdate=May 5
debutyear=2006
debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
statyear=August 26, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.288
stat2label=On base percentage
stat2value=.371
stat3label=Home runs
stat3value=41
stat4label=Runs Batted In
stat4value=208
stat5label=Stolen Bases
stat5value=43
teams=
*Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-present)
awards =
*2x All-Star selection (by|2007, by|2008)
*Gold Glove (by|2007)
*Silver Slugger (by|2007)

Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin Jr. [cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/martiru01.shtml|title=Russell Martin Statistics|accessdate=2007-09-15|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com] (born February 15, 1983 in East York, Ontario, Canada) [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7628|title=ESPN - Russell Martin Stats, News, Photos - Los Angeles Dodgers - MLB Basbeball|accessdate=2007-09-15|publisher=ESPN.com] is a professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers.cite web|url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=431145|title=The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers: Team: Player Information|accessdate=2007-09-15|publisher=MLB.com] Martin has broken the record for stolen bases by a catcher with the Dodgers.

Martin's career as a Major League Baseball player began in 2006. During that year, he hit .282. Convinced they had a find, the Dodgers stationed him in 2007 as their starting catcher, where he has been the past two seasons. During Martin's three years in the Majors, the Dodgers have made two postseason berths.

Early life

Martin was born in East York, Ontario. [cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/483767|title=Russell Martin MLB Baseball profile|accessdate=2008-04-16|publisher=Sportsline] He grew up in Chelsea, Quebec, Canada and lived in Paris, France from the age of 8-10. Martin has an African-Canadian father, Russell Martin Sr., and a white, French-Canadian mother, singer and actress, Suzanne Jeanson. His parents separated when he was only two years old.cite web|first=Cathal|last=Kelly|url=http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/223500|title=Catching the fast train to L.A. - Montreal resident Martin solid behind plate for Dodgers|accessdate=2008-04-16|date=2007-06-09|publisher=The Star] "I don't really remember when my parents separated, and it's probably better that way because I know kids these days go through some tough times," says Martin. His father used to play saxophone in Montreal subway stations to help pay for his baseball training. Along with playing baseball in the Montreal neighborhood of Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, Martin played hockey for N.D.G Minor Hockey, where glimpses of his future all-star athleticism could be seen. He graduated from Polyvalente Edouard-Montpetit, which was the same high school attended by former teammate Eric Gagné. After graduating from high school, Martin took a junior college scholarship at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

Playing career

Minor leagues

In 2002, Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round. Martin was originally a third baseman before switching to catcher after a scout saw him playing for the Gulf Coast Dodgers in Rookie Ball and thought he showed more promise in that position. Martin was a Florida State League All-Star catcher while with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 2004 and Baseball America 2nd Team Minor League All-Star and Southern League All-Star while with the Jacksonville Suns in 2005.

Major Leagues

On May 5, 2006, Martin was called up to the Dodgers after a wrist injury landed Navarro on the disabled list.cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=2093845|title=Russell Martin achieves stardom in second big-league season|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-06-14|publisher=Sporting News] He got two hits (including a double) in the game. His first hit was against Chris Capuano. The team has performed well since Martin's arrival; he has played well both offensively and defensively, and he has gained the trust of the pitchers. On the May 7 game he hit his first major league home run against the Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dave Bush. On June 6, 2006, Martin and Gagné made baseball history by becoming the first French-Canadian battery in the majors. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260606119|title=Mets vs. Dodgers - Box Score - June 6, 2006|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2006-06-06|publisher=ESPN] On June 26, 2006, Navarro was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a move which was likely made to give Navarro some playing time somewhere else. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/news?playerId=5902|title=ESPN - Dioner Navarro Stats, News, Photos, - Tampa Bay Rays|accessdate=2008-04-18|publisher=ESPN] On August 13, 2006, Martin hit his first career walk-off home run in a victory that completed a sweep of the rival San Francisco Giants. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=260813119|title=Giants vs. Dodgers - Box Score - August 13, 2006|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2006-08-13|publisher=ESPN] On September 18, 2006, Martin hit a solo home run off of Trevor Hoffman, the third of four consecutive home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the San Diego Padres, it was the first time four home runs have been hit in a row since the 1964 Minnesota Twins. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260918119|title=Padres vs. Dodgers - Recap - September 18, 2006|accessdate=2008-04-16|date=2006-09-18|publisher=ESPN] Martin has excelled since taking over the starting catcher's job. He has an above average batting average, but is fast enough to steal bases, a rarity for a catcher. [cite web|first=Peter|last=Gammons|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2840107&name=gammons_peter&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d2840107%26name%3dgammons_peter|title=Martin's energy drives Dodgers|accessdate=2007-08-20|date=April 16, 2007|publisher=ESPN] On April 21, 2007, Martin hit a walk-off grand slam against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Shawn Chacon in the bottom of the 10th inning. This was the first grand slam of his career. [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270421119|title=Pirates vs. Dodgers - Recap - April 21, 2007|quote=Martin's walk-off grand slam sends Dodgers past Pirates|accessdate=2008-04-16|date=2007-04-21|publisher=ESPN] In May 2007, Martin made his debut on the National League All-Star Game ballot at fourth place, despite leading National League catchers in most offensive categories and matching or exceeding ballot rivals in defense. [cite web|first=Kelly|last=Thrasher|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070521&content_id=1977593&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp|title=Votebook: All-Star talents behind plate|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-05-21|publisher=MLB.com] By June 26, he had made up a 140,100 vote deficit from ballot-leading Paul Lo Duca, the Dodgers' former catcher now playing for the Mets, and was 214,114 votes ahead of him. [cite web|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070603&content_id=2003946&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp|title=Dodgers make dent in All-Star voting|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-06-04|publisher=MLB.com] That same month he broke the Dodgers' franchise record for single-season steals by a catcher (12) set by John Roseboro in 1962. [cite web|author=GoBlue1324|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/GoBlue1324/126640/|title=2008 Fantasy Baseball: Catchers|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-12-27|publisher=Sporting News] On July 1 it was announced that Martin finished in first place in All-Star Game voting, leading Lo Duca by 296,948 votes. He became the first ever Canadian born catcher to start the All-Star Game. [cite web|first=Lyle|last=Spencer|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070710&content_id=2079849&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp|title=Dodgers take All-Star Game by storm|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-07-11|publisher=MLB.com] At the end of the 2007 season, he was awarded with the National League Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger award. [cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=silver_slugger_history|title=The Official Site of Major League Baseball: History: MLB Awards|accessdate=2008-04-18|publisher=MLB.com] [cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=2643130|title=Maddux wins record 17th Gold Glove|accessdate=2008-04-18|date=2007-11-06|publisher=Sporting News] On May 2, 2008, Martin started his first game at third base since reaching the Majors, allowing veteran backup Danny Ardoin to spell Martin behind the plate. [cite web|url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080502&content_id=2627891&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la|title=The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers: News: Martin starts at hot corner|accessdate=2008-09-02|date=2008-05-02|publisher=MLB.com] Martin made his second all-star game during the 2008 season. [cite web|first=Kevin|last=Baxter|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodrep7-2008jul07,0,7733094.story|title=Dodgers Report: Blister might limit All-Star Penny|accessdate=2008-09-02|date=2007-07-07|work=Los Angeles Times] He caught 10 innings of a 15 inning game in which the American League won 4 to 3. [cite web|first=Bryan|last=Hoch|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080715&content_id=3137808&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Night is Young: AL walks off in 15th|accessdate=2008-09-02|date=2008-07-16|publisher=MLB.com] Martin's 10 innings caught are tied for fourth place all time among all star catchers in a single game.

Personal life

Martin's full name is Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr. Russell is from his father (Russell Martin Sr.), Nathan is from his great-grandfather, Jeanson is the maiden name of his mother (Suzanne), and Coltrane is also from his dad to pay homage to John Coltrane (jazz saxophonist). Martin's entrance theme is "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry although lately he has been coming out to "Nas Is Like" by Nas. [cite web|url=http://www.losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/fan_forum/songs.jsp|title=The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers: Fan Forum: Player Songs|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=2008-09-02]

tatistics

small|Roll over stat abbreviations for definitions. Stats through September 29, 2008.cite web| url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/martiru01.shtml | title=Russell Martin Statistics| work=Baseball-Reference| accessdate=2008-08-10]

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb=431145 |espn= |br=m/martiru01 |fangraphs= |cube=M/Russell-Martin
* [http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=431145 Minor League Splits and Situational Stats]

Persondata
NAME = Martin, Russell
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Baseball catcher
DATE OF BIRTH = February 15, 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH = East York, Ontario
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =