Edgar Martinez is a retired Major League Baseball (MLB) player best known for his 18-season career with the Seattle Mariners from 1987 to 2004. Born in 1963 in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico, Martinez developed a passion for baseball early on and was signed by the Mariners in 1982. After several years in the minor leagues, he secured a permanent spot in the majors by 1990 and became a key figure for the Mariners, primarily as a designated hitter and third baseman[1][2][4]. Martinez was a seven-time MLB All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and two-time American League batting champion, with batting titles in 1992 (.343 average) and 1995 (.356 average)[2][4][5]. He led the American League in runs scored, doubles, and on-base percentage multiple times, finishing his career with a .312 batting average, 309 home runs, 514 doubles, and a .418 on-base percentage over 2,055 games[2][4][5]. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest right-handed hitters and the best designated hitter in MLB history[2][5]. Martinez is famously remembered for "The Double," his series-winning hit in the 1995 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, which propelled the Mariners to their first American League Championship Series and boosted local support for a new stadium[1][4]. Despite his individual success, he never played in a World Series. Following his retirement in 2004, MLB renamed its award for the best designated hitter as the Edgar Martínez Award. The Mariners retired his number 11 and inducted him into their Hall of Fame. In 2019, Martinez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy among baseball's all-time greats[2][4][5]. Since retirement, Martinez has been involved in business and humanitarian efforts, maintaining relevance as a respected figure in the sport[7].