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Red Sox Flashback: Catching up with former pitcher Bret Saberhagen

By Sean Penney

14 Mar 1998: Pitcher Bret Saberhagen of the Boston Red Sox in action during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
14 Mar 1998: Pitcher Bret Saberhagen of the Boston Red Sox in action during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /
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NEW YORK – JULY 1: Pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox delivers against the New York Yankees during the game at Yankee Stadium on July 1, 2004 in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees won 5-4. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JULY 1: Pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox delivers against the New York Yankees during the game at Yankee Stadium on July 1, 2004 in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees won 5-4. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Martinez captured his second career Cy Young in 1999, winning 23 games with a 2.07 ERA while setting the franchise single-season record with 313 strikeouts. Even a pitcher as accomplished as Saberhagen was impressed by Pedro.

"“I’ve seen a lot of great pitchers but by far he is the best I ever saw,” said Saberhagen. “I feel very fortunate to have been a teammate with him.”"

Saberhagen had the opportunity to play with many outstanding players over the course of his career, including Bo Jackson during his time in Kansas City. He admits to being a bit disappointed when Roger Clemens left town at the same time Saberhagen arrived in Boston. He was looking forward to pitching alongside The Rocket. As great as Clemens was during his time with the Red Sox, he never had a season quite like Pedro in ’99.

No pitcher in this era has had a season quite like what Martinez produced that year but Saberhagen came close a decade earlier. While Saberhagen couldn’t match Pedro’s staggering strikeouts totals, his 23 wins and 2.16 ERA en route to winning his second Cy Young put him in that same territory.

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