Ken Griffey Jr. was on the field with him. Randy Johnson praised him on the big screen. Cal Ripken Jr. narrated his video tribute.
On the night Edgar Martinez’s No. 11 was retired at Safeco Field, some of the best to ever play the game of baseball took the time to honor their friend. And though it was touching, the truth is this: They should have been honoring their fellow Hall of Famer.
Before Martinez, the Mariners had a strict policy when it came to retiring numbers — you had to have a bust in Cooperstown.