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Former Red Sox listed among ESPN’s top 100 MLB players of all time

By Sean Penney

Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
Boston Red Sox David Ortiz (R) is congratulated his solo homer by teammate Manny Ramirez in the top of the first innings against Japan's Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game in the Tokyo Dome on March 22, 2008.The Boston Red Sox managed a narrow 6-5 victory against Tigers in an exhibition game here, days ahead of the official season opening games against the Oakland Athletics. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez
BRONX, NY – JULY 7: Starting pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees during the MLB game at Yankee Stadium on July 7, 2003 in Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 2-1. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez – No. 11

There hasn’t been a more dominant pitcher in the modern era than Pedro Martinez. The right-hander rose to prominence with the Montreal Expos, winning his first Cy Young award in 1997 when he led the league with a 1.90 ERA, 0.932 WHIP and 11.4 K/9.

The Red Sox traded for Martinez the following year in one of the all-time greatest heists. Pedro was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young during his first season in Boston and followed that by capturing the award in consecutive seasons.

Those two seasons are arguably the best back-to-back years by a pitcher in baseball history. Martinez won 23 games with a 2.07 ERA while setting the single-season franchise record with 313 strikeouts in 1999. For an encore, Martinez posted a 1.74 ERA with a record-setting 0.737 WHIP. His 291 ERA+ in that 2000 season is the best by any pitcher in the modern era.

In addition to his three Cy Young trophies, Pedro was an eight-time All-Star who won five ERA titles and a pitching Triple Crown.

During his final season with the Red Sox, Martinez was a core member of the pitching staff on a team that ended the franchise’s 86-year title drought. He tossed seven shutout innings to earn the win in Game 3 of the World Series, which put Boston one step away from a championship.

Only Walter Johnson, who pitched nearly a century before him, ranks higher on ESPN’s list among pitchers. At least those who spent their entire career as a pitcher… but we’ll get to that soon enough.

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