[nfbwatlk] This weekend is all about Edgar

Sat Jun 2 02:34:43 CDT 2007

And we will be there!
Thanks
Lauren
This weekend is all about Edgar
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/318076_edgar01.html

This weekend is all about Edgar 

Festivities celebrate induction to M's Hall

Last updated May 31, 2007 11:55 p.m. PT

By GREG JOHNS
P-I REPORTER

Debate all you want Ichiro Suzuki's future in Seattle and the decision to return Jeff Weaver to the rotation and whether Richie Sexson belongs in the clean-up
role with a batting average hovering near .200.

But some questions are easier to answer. The Mariners get to celebrate one of those this weekend at Safeco Field when Edgar Martinez becomes the fourth
inductee into the Mariners Hall of Fame.

"That one," team president Chuck Armstrong said, "took no time at all. Of course you're putting Edgar in the Hall."

Martinez completed his 18-year career with the Mariners in 2004 and thus became eligible for the team's Hall of Fame this year, having been retired for
the required two seasons.

The only previous player inducted in his first eligible year was Jay Buhner in 2004. Alvin Davis, who retired in 1992, was the original Mariners Hall of
Fame selection in 1997.

Broadcaster Dave Niehaus joined Davis as the second inductee in 2000. That trio will accompany Martinez and a sellout crowd of about 1,000 at a Friday luncheon
at Safeco Field, as well as during Saturday's 6:30 p.m. ceremony before the Mariners' game with the Texas Rangers.

"It's a great honor," Martinez, 44, said. "It feels good to get inducted along with Jay and Dave and Alvin. I'm looking forward to this weekend very much."

Martinez's two appearances at Safeco this weekend are something of a rarity. Although he spent several days with the team during spring training in Arizona,
business and time constraints have kept him largely away from the ballpark since his retirement.

The seven-time All-Star now works as CEO of a Redmond company, Branded Solutions by Edgar Martinez, which puts company logos on a variety of items. He's
also busy being the father of three young children. Thanks to his charitable work with Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and other groups,
Martinez will be inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho, on June 20.

In his spare time, Martinez has begun taking flying lessons on weekends as the culmination of a life-long interest.

"It's one of the things I've always wanted to do," Martinez said. "When I was playing, one of the hobbies I had was computer flying games. Eventually I
got a flight simulator for the house, but going up in the air is a completely different thing."

Martinez has flown a four-seat, single-engine plane out of Boeing Field to Bremerton.

"I really love it," he said. "Especially on a nice day, it's beautiful to fly. Some day I'd like to get my pilot's license, but we'll see. I'm just enjoying
it right now."

Martinez said his priorities are business and family duties, which have kept his mind off baseball as he's drifted away from the game.

"I've been so involved in other stuff that I haven't been back in the stadium or talked to anyone on the team (since spring training)," he said. "Hopefully
things get a little easier and I can start making that connection again."

He'll get the chance to do so at Friday's luncheon, which will include former teammates Dan Wilson, Dave Valle, Mike Blowers, Jeff Nelson, Norm Charlton,
Dave Henderson, Raul Ibanez, Willie Bloomquist and the two fellow Hall members, Davis and Buhner.

Armstrong, the team president since 1983, said Martinez's induction is another sign of the franchise's growth.

"Alvin epitomized everything we stood for in the '80s," Armstrong said. "Dave Niehaus, if you did a poll, the fans loved no matter what our record was.
Buhner was kind of a folk hero. And now Edgar, he's become an icon here just like Cal Ripken in Baltimore or Ted Williams in Boston or Tony Gwynn in San
Diego. The fact he played his whole career here and has made Seattle his permanent home, he's a very special guy to this area."

On Saturday night, Safeco Field fans will get one more chance to make that connection. The half-hour ceremony will conclude with Martinez addressing the
crowd.

Any idea what he'll say?

"I have a couple more days to work on that," Martinez said with a laugh. "But it will be easy. I've had a great relationship with the fans over the years.
It'll be a special night."

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

FRIDAY: Safeco Field luncheon, sold out, 11:45 a.m.

SATURDAY: Induction ceremony, 6:30 p.m. at Safeco. About 10,000 tickets still available for Mariners-Rangers game to follow. Martinez will throw out first
pitch at 7:05 p.m.

WHAT IT MEANS: Martinez joins current Mariners Hall of Fame members Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus and Jay Buhner, with plaque and display in Baseball Museum
on main concourse along third base line at Safeco Field.

WHAT'S NEXT: Martinez will be inducted into World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho, on June 20. He won't be eligible for the National Baseball
Hall of Fame ballot until after the 2009 season.

-- Greg Johns

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P-I reporter Greg Johns can be reached at 206-448-8314 or gregjohns at seattlepi.com.

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-------------- next part --------------
And we will be there!
Thanks
Lauren
This weekend is all about Edgar
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/318076_edgar01.html http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/318076_edgar01.html

This weekend is all about Edgar

Festivities celebrate induction to M's Hall

Last updated May 31, 2007 11:55 p.m. PT

By GREG JOHNS
P-I REPORTER