#639 J. C. Martin

Long time Chicago crosstown reserve catcher now in backstop by committee that was the northside in 1971…Career is more defined by a would be WS sacrifice bunt as a New York Met, instrumental in winning game 4…the throw to first by Pete Richert hit Martin in the back and the ball ambled away allowing Rod Gaspar to score the winning run…never was an offensive weapon…a career .222 batting and career highs in home runs and RBIs were 5 and 31 respectively…Started in 1959 with White Sox…Platooned with other catchers of the time on the Southside...From the Mets he was traded to Cubs for Randy Bobb in a catcher for catcher transaction…1970 used very little as backup to Randy Hundley and then Jack Hiatt after Hundley went on the DL…Garnered more playing in 1971 as Hundley continues to be out…One of six catchers on the club…that year hit .264 which was best among backstops with more than 20 at bats…ended career in 1972 with a .240 mark.