Russell Martin

Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr. (born February 15, 1983 in East York, Ontario) is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Martin's career as a Major League Baseball player began in 2006. During that year, he hit .282. Convinced they had a find, the Dodgers stationed him in 2007 as their starting catcher, where he has been the past two seasons. During Martin's three years in the majors, the Dodgers have made two postseason berths.

Martin was born in East York, Ontario (in the east end of Toronto). He grew up in Chelsea, Quebec, Canada and lived in Paris, France from the age of 8-10. Martin has an African Canadian father, Russell Martin Sr., and a white, French Canadian mother, singer and actress, Suzanne Jeanson. His parents separated when he was only two years old. "I don't really remember when my parents separated, and it's probably better that way because I know kids these days go through some tough times," says Martin. His father used to play saxophone in Montreal subway stations to help pay for his baseball training. Along with playing baseball in the Montreal neighborhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Martin played hockey for N.D.G Minor Hockey, where glimpses of his future all-star athleticism could be seen. He graduated from Polyvalente Édouard-Montpetit High School, which was the same high school attended by former teammate Éric Gagné. After graduating from high school, Martin took a junior college scholarship at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida.

Minor Leagues

In 2002, Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round. Martin was originally a third baseman before switching to catcher after a scout saw him playing for the Gulf Coast Dodgers in Rookie Ball and thought he showed more promise in that position. Martin was a Florida State League All-Star catcher while with the Vero Beach Dodgers in 2004 and Baseball America 2nd Team Minor League All-Star and Southern League All-Star while with the Jacksonville Suns in 2004.


Major Leagues

On May 5, 2006, Martin was called up to the Dodgers after a wrist injury landed the starting catcher Dioner Navarro on the disabled list. He got two hits (including a double) in the game. His first hit was against Chris Capuano. On May 7, he hit his first major league home run against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dave Bush. On June 6, 2006, Martin and Éric Gagné made baseball history by becoming the first French Canadian battery in the majors. Martin's play was good enough that, on June 26, 2006, Navarro was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. On August 13, 2006, Martin hit his first career walk-off home run in a victory that completed a sweep of the rival San Francisco Giants. On September 18, 2006, Martin hit a solo home run off of Trevor Hoffman, the third of four consecutive home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the San Diego Padres, it was the first time four home runs have been hit in a row since the 1964 Minnesota Twins.

Martin has excelled since taking over the starting catcher's job. He has an above average batting average, but is fast enough to steal bases, a rarity for a catcher. On April 21, 2007, Martin hit a walk-off grand slam against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Shawn Chacon in the bottom of the 10th inning. This was the first grand slam of his career.

In May 2007, Martin made his debut on the National League All-Star Game ballot at fourth place, despite leading National League catchers in most offensive categories and matching or exceeding ballot rivals in defense. By June 26, he had made up a 140,100 vote deficit from ballot-leading Paul Lo Duca, the Dodgers' former catcher then playing for the Mets, also formerly with the Washington Nationals, and now in the Florida Marlins organization with a minor league contract. Lo Duca had been 214,114 votes ahead of him. That same month he broke the Dodgers' franchise record for single-season steals by a catcher (12) set by John Roseboro in 1962. On July 1 it was announced that Martin finished in first place in All-Star Game voting, leading Lo Duca by 296,948 votes. He became the first ever Canadian born catcher to start the All-Star Game.

At the end of the 2007 season, he was awarded with the National League Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger award.

On May 2, 2008, Martin started his first game at third base since reaching the Majors, allowing veteran backup Gary Bennett to spell Martin behind the plate. Martin made his second all-star game during the 2008 season. He caught 10 innings of a 15 inning game in which the American League won 4 to 3. Martin's 10 innings caught are tied for fourth place all time among all star catchers in a single game.

On January 20, 2009, Martin signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. The deal is the largest ever awarded to a catcher in his first year of arbitration.

Martin's full name is Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr. Russell is from his father (Russell Martin Sr.), Nathan is from his great-grandfather, Jeanson is the maiden name of his mother (Suzanne), and Coltrane is also from his dad to pay homage to John Coltrane (jazz saxophonist). Martin's entrance theme is "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry although lately he has been coming out to "Nas Is Like" by Nas.

Russell Martin announced that for the 2009 season, the name printed on his jersey will be changed to "J. Martin" in reference to one of his middle names "Jeanson", in honor of his mother.

Martin has been linked to several women, including actress and baseball aficionado Alyssa Milano and as of February 2009, French Canadian model and actress Marikym Hervieux.

In an effort to quit the use of smokeless tobacco, Martin began wearing a custom-fitted mouthpiece during the 2009 World Baseball Classic and Spring Training.