Pedro Martinez Meets Artist Behind Hall Of Fame Plaque
BOSTON (CBS) -- Walking through the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting a glimpse of his likeness up on the wall with the other greats of the game, it has finally hit Pedro Martinez.
He's a Hall of Famer, forever.
"It's very humbling to finally look at your complete name on the plaque and to be here, to finally say I'm here and I'm going to be seen here for the rest of my life," Martinez told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche Monday morning in Cooperstown, New York.
In Pedro's eyes, the plaque is perfect in every way. From the necklace he wore every time he stepped on the mound, the intensity in his eyes and the jheri curls he requested, sculpter Mindy Ellis threw a perfect strike with her rendition of one of the most dominant pitchers of all time.
Martinez's plaque was the 76th Ellis has done for the Hall of Fame. The artist and pitcher met briefly on Monday morning, with Pedro passing along his gratitude for a job well done.
"I think [Ellis] did an outstanding job describing me, and describing the intensity in my eyes. I can be very telling by the way I turn my eyes." said Martinez. "The way she described the chain that I always used, it's incredible."
Meeting Pedro on Monday was the first time Ellis has met the athlete whose mold will forever be enshrined in Cooperstown.
"There is nothing like the feeling of hearing somebody really talk about how they perceive your work," she said. "He said to me, 'That is me, that is how I am. You got me.' It's just so rewarding for us. There is nothing like it… It's a once in a lifetime [experience]."
Getting to see his plaque hanging on the walls in Cooperstown capped off an incredible weekend for Martinez. In addition to his Hall of Fame enshrinement, he also had over 100 family members from the Dominican Republic with him to share the special moment with him. He said his call to the Hall was perfect timing for a Martinez family reunion.
And the good times aren't over just yet. On Tuesday, the Red Sox will retire his No. 45 in a ceremony at Fenway Park.
"I'm looking forward to that one," Martinez told Roche with a smile. "A lot more fun [to come] on that one."