The Seattle Mariners are celebrating the career of the best right-handed hitter of his era when Edgar Martinez's #11 is officially retired during a weekend of special events at Safeco Field August 10-12.
Space Needle Flag-Raising
The celebration gets under way on Friday morning when Edgar has the honor or raising a #11 flag atop the Space Needle.The flag will fly above Seattle through Saturday in tribute.
"Light Bat" Bobblehead Night
The first 45,000 fans through the gates on Friday, August 11, when the Mariners meet the Los Angeles Angels, will receive an Edgar Martinez "Light Bat" Bobblehead, courtesy of ROOT SPORTS. The bobblehead is inspired by one of Edgar's most famous TV commercials, for Eagle Hardware, in which he builds a lamp in the shape of a baseball bat. And just like the original, the bobblehead bat lights up.
Number Retirement Ceremony
Edgar's number will officially be retired by the Mariners during a pregame ceremony on Saturday, August 12. All gates will open to the public at 3:30 pm. The ceremony begins at 5:30 pm. The first 45,000 fans through the gates will receive a replica #11 plaque, courtesy of Alaska Airlines, similar to the one that will be hung in center field next to Ken Griffey Jr.'s #24 and Jackie Robinson's #42.
Replica Jersey
The celebration wraps up on Sunday, August 13, as the first 45,000 fans receive an Edgar Martinez replica #11 jersey, courtesy of Alaska Airlines.
Mariners players will also take part in the celebration. On Friday and Saturday, the team will wear a commemorative logo on their caps and jerseys. All three games will be played with a commemorative baseball, which features the Edgar Martinez Weekend logo. Players will also wear special #11 tops during batting practice on Saturday.
Tickets
Tickets for the weekend games, and all remaining games on the Mariners 2017 home schedule, are available at Mariners.com/Tickets, at the Safeco Field Box Office and Seattle Mariners Team Stores (4th & Stewart in downtown Seattle, Bellevue Square, Southcenter Mall and Alderwood Mall), and by phone at 1-888-SEA-HITS.
About Edgar Martinez
Edgar was the best right-handed hitter of his era. He retired at the conclusion of the 2004 season having spent his entire 18-year Major League career with the Mariners and finished with a lifetime .312 batting average, .418 on-base percentage and a .515 slugging percentage (.933 OPS). Edgar was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame on June 2, 2007.
Over his career, he made seven All-Star appearances, won a pair of batting titles, and five Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards. Upon his retirement, Major League Baseball renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award the Edgar Martinez Award. He also won five Silver Sluggers and is the franchise's all-time leader in doubles, runs, RBI, walks, extra-base hits and games played.
Off the field, Edgar was honored by Major League Baseball with the Roberto Clemente Award (MLB's top humanitarian award) and the City of Seattle renamed a section of South Atlantic Street (which runs alongside the ballpark) Edgar Martinez Drive South in 2004. He was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 2007.
The 2017 season is Edgar's third season as the Mariners Major League hitting coach.