According to the Canadian Press on Tuesday, former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin of East York, Ontario will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024. Martin is one of two former Blue Jays inducted, as he is joined by pitcher Jimmy Key.
Martin is one of the best Canadian catchers of all-time. He played 14 seasons of Major League Baseball. Martin was with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2010 and 2019, the New York Yankees from 2011 to 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2013 to 2014, and the Blue Jays from 2015 to 2018.
Quebec-raised, Martin batted .248 with 191 home runs and 771 runs batted in. During 1693 games, 6648 plate appearances and 5701 at bats, he scored 803 runs and had 1416 hits, 255 doubles, nine triples, 101 stolen bases, 792 walks, 2262 total bases, 12 sacrifice bunts, and 36 sacrifice flies, to go along with an on base percentage of .349 and a slugging percentage of .397.
Four times Martin was selected to the All-Star Game. He was selected in 2007 and 2008 with the Dodgers, with the Yankees in 2011 and with the Blue Jays in 2015. While with the Dodgers in 2007, Martin won the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award. He batted .293 with 19 home runs and 87 runs batted in. It was a career high in all three statistical categories.
