Editor’s note: NESN.com will reflect on some of Pedro Martinez’s most impressive and most interesting Boston Red Sox moments in the days leading up to his Hall of Fame induction Sunday, July 26 and his number retirement ceremony Tuesday, July 28 at Fenway Park.
Date: July 13, 1999
Location: Fenway Park
Opponent: National League All-Stars
Moment in a word: King
On a night when Major League Baseball’s best players shared a field, Pedro Martinez was head and shoulders above the rest. The Boston Red Sox ace’s greatness was on full display.
Martinez struck out five superstars — Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell — over two innings en route to earning MVP honors in front of his hometown crowd at the 1999 All-Star Game.
The pitcher’s opponents — the NL’s crème de la crème, in this case — simply were overmatched, which was a common theme throughout the three-time Cy Young winner’s 18-year big league career.
Tune in to NESN this Sunday from noon ET to 7:30 p.m. for a “The Best of Pedro Martinez” marathon. NESN will air Pedro’s top NESN games featuring only the half innings that he pitched.
Click for Pedro Martinez’s top 10 Red Sox moments >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@DanScavino
