You're staring at the New York Times crossword grid. The clue says "Hall of Famer Martinez," and you’ve got five little boxes to fill. If you're a baseball junkie, your mind probably races through a list of legends. If you're just a casual solver, you might be wondering why there are so many guys with that last name who were good at hitting or throwing a ball.
Honestly, it’s usually Edgar.
While the "Hall of Famer Martinez NYT" clue could technically point to a few people, the puzzle editors have a massive crush on Edgar Martinez. He’s the quintessential Seattle Mariner. He’s the guy who basically forced MLB to respect the Designated Hitter (DH) position. But more importantly for you, his first name is a five-letter dream for crossword constructors.
The Edgar Martinez Dominance
Why does Edgar show up so much? It’s not just the five letters in his name, though that helps. It’s the legacy. For years, Edgar was the poster child for the "DHs don't belong in the Hall" debate. People acted like he was somehow less of a ballplayer because he didn't wear a glove for most of his career.
He stayed on the ballot for a full decade.
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Eventually, the voters woke up. In 2019, he finally got his plaque in Cooperstown. He finished with a career .312 batting average and an on-base percentage of .418. That OBP is higher than folks like Mickey Mantle or Joe DiMaggio. Let that sink in for a second. When the NYT uses "Hall of Famer Martinez," they are often tipping their cap to the man who won two batting titles and hit "The Double" in 1995 that saved baseball in Seattle.
He’s a legend. He’s a five-letter answer. He’s the crossword king.
Is It Ever Pedro?
Okay, look. There is another Martinez in the Hall of Fame. A much louder one. Pedro Martinez.
If the clue asks for a "Hall of Fame pitcher Martinez," or if you have five letters but "EDGAR" doesn't fit the crosses, you’re looking at Pedro. Pedro was elected on the first ballot in 2015. He was absolute lightning on the mound.
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- The Stats: 3,154 strikeouts.
- The Peak: His 1999 and 2000 seasons with the Red Sox are arguably the best two-year stretch any pitcher has ever had in the history of the game.
- The WHIP: In 2000, he had a 0.737 WHIP. That's basically illegal.
Crossword constructors love Pedro because his name is also five letters. If you see "Martinez of the Red Sox," it's Pedro. If you see "Martinez of the Mariners," it's Edgar. Sometimes the NYT gets tricky and just says "Martinez in Cooperstown." That's when you have to look at your crossing words.
The "Other" Martinez Candidates (The Almost-Hall-of-Famers)
Now, 2026 is an interesting year for baseball history. We have to talk about the guys who might be in your crossword soon, even if they aren't "Hall of Famers" in the Cooperstown sense just yet.
You’ve got J.D. Martinez. He’s been a professional hitter for a long time. He spent 2024 with the New York Mets, and as of early 2026, he’s still a name people talk about in the context of pure power. Is he a Hall of Famer? Probably not quite. But he’s a "Mets Martinez" or a "Red Sox slugger Martinez." If the NYT clue doesn't explicitly say "Hall of Famer," J.D. is a fair bet for a 10-letter or two-word answer.
Then there is Victor Martinez. "V-Mart." He was a monster for the Tigers and Indians (now Guardians). He actually debuted on the Hall of Fame ballot a couple of years ago. He didn't get in—he hasn't hit that 75% threshold—but he’s the kind of "Hall of Very Good" player that crossword writers love to use to stump people who only know the inner-circle legends.
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And we can't forget Tino Martinez. He’s in the New York Yankees Hall of Fame (the Monument Park version), and he was inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. If the NYT clue says "Yankee great Martinez," it’s Tino. Every time. He was the guy who had to follow Don Mattingly at first base. Talk about pressure. He responded by winning four World Series rings.
Solving the "Hall of Famer Martinez NYT" Puzzle
If you're stuck on this clue right now, here is the hierarchy of how to guess:
- Count the letters. If it’s five, write "EDGAR" in light pencil.
- Check the team. Mariners = Edgar. Red Sox/Expos/Mets = Pedro.
- Check the position. DH = Edgar. Pitcher = Pedro. 1st Base = Tino (but check if "Hall of Famer" refers to the team Hall or the National one).
- Look for the era. 90s/00s is the sweet spot for both Edgar and Pedro.
Crosswords are as much about patterns as they are about knowledge. "Martinez" is a common name, but in the world of the New York Times puzzle, it’s a specific signal. It’s a bridge between the sports world and the linguistic world.
Actionable Tips for Crossword Success
Next time you see a baseball clue in the NYT, don't just guess. Look for the "era indicators." If the clue mentions "Cooperstown," it narrowed the field to Edgar and Pedro immediately. If it says "All-Star," it could be J.D. or Victor.
Step 1: Verify the length. Most Martinez-related answers are 5 letters (Edgar, Pedro, Tino).
Step 2: Look at the vowels. Edgar and Pedro share the 'D' and 'R' in similar-ish spots depending on the cross, but the vowels are your giveaway.
Step 3: Keep a mental list of "Crossword Staples." Other names like OTT, ALOU, and ERA are teammates with MARTINEZ in the grid world.
Knowing the difference between a Mariner legend and a Red Sox ace doesn't just make you better at trivia; it saves you from having to use the "reveal word" button and ruining your streak.