Former Baltimore Orioles history-maker passed away from a heart attack at 59

The baseball world is mourning the loss of Chito Martinez, the first and only Major League Baseball player from Belize. Martinez passed away on Tuesday at the age of 59 due to a heart attack, the Baltimore Orioles confirmed in a heartfelt social media post.

 A Historic Journey from Belize to the Big Leagues

On the 10th of July in 1991, Martinez made history by becoming the first Belizean by birth-and-blood to play in Major League Baseball when he played for Baltimore Orioles. At two years of age, his family migrated to United States and finally settled down in New Orleans where he later shined as a high school baseball player at Brother Martin High School. 

A Short But Sweet MLB Career

He almost left the game while with the Kansas City Royals after drafting, but a fresh new start in the Orioles’ farm system fired his career. He did hit fire that year in Triple-A, with the Rochester Red Wings, in 1991- hitting 20 jacks between April and July. Mid-year, he was in line to jump to the big club.

The start was rather exhilarating, but life in the big leagues could not be so sweet. Martinez did not hit well during the 1992 season and toward the end of the 1993 season, was back in the minors. After that, he never played for the Orioles again.

He played 158 games in MLB, during which he registered 18 home runs on his name. Even though he enjoyed a brief time to be able to fly high from the highest point, his journey is unique, and he has been a pioneer in making a mark through all his exhaustion. 

A Legacy that Lives on through Family 

Chito Martinez now survives through a lovely wife and three kids, who will keep the legacy of the great game going. Both of his sons have also pursued a path in baseball. One of his sons, Drew Martinez, is currently in the coaching staff of the San Francisco Giants organization while Dalton Martinez played college baseball at Georgia State and is now coaching high school baseball in the Atlanta area. 

The story of Martinez remains one of perseverance and path-breaking success. A young boy coming from Belize to work in the United States became a historical figure in the annals of baseball. The legacy he has set to history, and the lives he impacted, will always be alive.