Career Leaders & Records for Adjusted OPS+ - Baseball-Reference.com

More on Edgar Martinez

This link goes to the career leaders for adjusted OPS+, which is just about the single best measure of a man's hitting ability. If you consider him a third baseman, take note that he was as good a hitter as Mike Schmidt, slightly better than Ed Mathews.

If you consider him a DH, take note that he was as good a hitter as A-Rod, Stargell, or McCovey. Yup, same lifetime OPS, just a hair below Honus Wagner and Lajoie. He was a better hitter than Vlad Guerrero, Chipper Jones, Ryan Howard, Todd Helton ... well, the list of active players goes on because only two current players are/were stronger hitters than Edgar: Senor Sluggo and Manny. Period. As good as A-Rod? I reckon that's HOF quality.

11 times in his career he finished in the top six in the AL in OBP, including three firsts and three seconds. His career OBP is the 22nd highest of all time. Just BELOW him: Stan Musial and Wade Boggs.

One reader pointed out that (1) he's the best of all time at his position, no questions asked; (2) the freakin' award for designated hitters is named after him, fer chrissakes. Only five players in baseball history have official awards named after them. There's Cy Young, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, and Ted Williams. And Edgar. That says it all.

Of course, one series does not make for a candidate, but let's recall the playoff series in 1995 when he beat the Yankees by himself. He was on base 18 times in 5 games, almost four per game, and batted .571. When the Mariners were down 2 games to 1 despite Edgar running up an OBP just below .700 in those three games, Edgar got pissed off and took over. In game four he knocked in seven runs. In game five, facing a 5-4 deficit in the bottom of the eleventh, he cleared the table with a series-winning walk-off double.

Per Wikipedia: "Baseball lore says that Edgar Martínez saved Seattle baseball with that double. While his series-winning hit did help build the groundswell that the Washington State Legislature eventually had to respond to by enacting legislation to fund Safeco Field, it was one of many moments in a 'miracle run' by the Mariners in September and October 1995 that changed public sentiment towards the team and towards public financing of a baseball-only stadium as a partial replacement for the Kingdome."

I don't get to vote, but if I did he would be on my ballot.