Pedro Martinez at the 1999 All-Star Game. Those few words are synonymous with greatness. It was one of the best performances on a baseball diamond. Certainly the best in All-Star Game history.
Standing tall atop his home mound at Fenway Park, Martinez faced six batters and recorded five strikeouts. But these weren't just any strikeouts.
Barry Larkin. Larry Walker. Sammy Sosa. Mark McGwire. Jeff Bagwell. That's a full house, Hall of Famers over home run kings. And none of them could touch Pedro.
It may have been a glorified exhibition game, but to Martinez, it was much more than that. He talked about why on the latest episode of the 6-1-1 podcast with Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.
"Some things you just make personal," Martinez said. "I was representing Boston. I had the cream of baseball all around the infield -- the All-Century Team. So much respect. Mr. Hank Aaron went and shook my hand. It was dedicated to Ted Williams -- in Boston. So I knew what it meant for Boston that I went out there and perform.
"For me to be starting that All-Star Game in front of all those legends that were there and representing Ted Williams, his uniform, was personal."
With tremendous determination, Martinez began the game by getting Larkin to flail at a changeup. He then froze Walker with a fastball on the outer half. A fastball to Sosa leaked back over the heart of the plate, but all the Cubs slugger could touch was air.
"Good enough for him to hit," Martinez said of the heater to Sosa. "It looked good to him, but it's good enough to get you out."
Martinez blew away McGwire to open the second inning. Matt Williams reached on an error, but after Martinez got Bagwell swinging, Williams was caught stealing to complete an inning-ending double play. Six batters. Five strikeouts. One unforgettable night.
"It was kind of personal," Martinez said. "That's why I took it more serious than than any other."
Be sure to listen to the latest 6-1-1 podcast episode to hear more from Martinez about his All-Star Game outing, his interactions with Aaron and Williams, and his thoughts on pitching.