Pedro Martinez Retires: Hall of Fame Next for Era's Most Dominant Pitcher

Pedro Martinez can now sit back and wait for the Hall of Fame to call. He is now free to enjoy his retirement after making a surprise announcement that he has played his last game.

The surprise was not that he had decided he was through playing baseball, but that he was not already retired.

Martinez announced plans to announce that he was retiring at a charity event for the Jimmy Fund and his own foundation in Bedford, Ma. Here is Martinez, as quoted on The Boston Herald.com:

"

Now I have tasted the normal life, life as a family member, being a family man, being a father. You know what? I like it, honestly. I do miss some of the things in baseball but not all of it. And I think right now my family is my priority.

"

Martinez had not pitched since he was with the Phillies in 2009.

Hall of Fame Resume

In an era when hitters with steroid-fueled muscles were bashing pitchers, Martinez was unhittable. It took him a while to perfect his craft, but once he did it was lights out.

He did not have the extended longevity of greatness of some the game's best, but for a decade there was no one better. 

He retires with three Cy Young awards and eight All-Star selections. He had a career record of 219-100. He compiled 46 complete games, a 2.93 ERA and 3,154 strikeouts.

Four times he led the American League in ERA and three times he led it in strikeouts.

His finest season came n 1999. He won the American League pitching triple crown by going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts.

Martinez wasn't able to get to the magic 300 win number, but his winning percentage is outstanding.

Combine that with run of absolute dominance and his three Cy Young awards and you have a second-ballot Hall of Famer.