Russell Martin Says Goodbye to Blue Jays Fans | Globalnews.ca

TORONTO – Russell Martin’s favorite memory at Rogers Center is the same as that of many Toronto Blue Jays fans: José Bautista’s infamous bat throw in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series.

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“Just the electricity from the crowd, you could feel the ground shaking and the energy was crazy,” Martin said. “That’s definitely a moment that sticks out more than any other.”

Martin added another memorable moment on Friday, throwing out the first pitch in front of a packed Canada Day crowd at Toronto’s ballpark. He formally announced his retirement from baseball on May 28 and making an appearance at Rogers Center was his chance to say thank you and goodbye to Blue Jays fans.

Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Martin is one of the most successful Canadians to ever play for the Blue Jays. The catcher had a .225 batting average, 66 home runs and 211 RBIs, plus one All-Star appearance, in his four seasons with Toronto.

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He said playing in Toronto on Canada Day has a different feel than a typical game at Rogers Centre.

“You feel the energy of the crowd and the crowd gets excited for Canada Day,” said Martin, sitting in the Blue Jays dugout before the morning game against the Tampa Bay Rays. “It’s special because you get the red jerseys and the crowd feels like you’re in the playoffs, even though it’s not the playoffs.

“You have that energy that you don’t really have in a regular-season game.”

Martin began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers before moving on to the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto and then played one final season with Los Angeles. He finished his career with a .248 average, 191 home runs, 771 RBIs and four all-star games.

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He said he has generally stopped watching baseball and instead focused on raising his children and playing golf. Asked if he could come out of retirement and represent Canada in an international tournament like the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Martin said it was unlikely.

“I’m so out of shape right now. As much as I’d like to think I could do it, I’m not even close to being in playing shape,” she said with a laugh. “I have way too much respect for guys who spend a lot of time in the off-season, go to work and stay in tune.

“They’re like well-tuned race cars right now. I’m like a beat-up Chevy.”

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 1, 2022.

© 2022 The Canadian Press


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