Edgar Martinez: 4 Errors in One 1990 Game

On May 6, 1990, Edgar Martinez was playing third base for the Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome. It didn’t go well. The Seattle Times reported the next day: “Craig Worthington’s hot second-inning grounder went past Martinez and into left field. Three runs, all unearned, eventually scored.

In the seventh, with the score tied 3-3, Martinez dropped Phil Bradley’s routine grounder, picked it up, then threw a grenade that exploded in the dirt in front of Seattle’s first baseman, Alvin Davis. Baltimore’s Bradley stood on second base, and Martinez had two more errors.

Two batters later, with Bradley on third, Cal Ripken Jr. chopped a grounder bound for Martinez. The play was to home. Martinez dropped the ball, and Bradley scored.

It was Little League Day at the Kingdome yesterday and fathers could be seen covering the eyes of their children every time a grounder was hit toward third.”

The Mariners won, 5-4. Edgar said: “I thought about Randy Johnson. I knew he needed to have a good game, and I was trying harder every time the ball was hit to me. I was trying hard for him and for the team. All that was in my mind was that, whatever happens, we’ve got to win. I didn’t want to go home today knowing that we lost because I made errors.

Mariners Manager Jim Lefebvre said: “Edgar just had one of those days. I called him in after the game and told him to check the record book. One of those other guys holding the record of four errors by a third baseman is named Jim Lefebvre. I told him not to worry about it, to relax, just catch the ball and throw it. Everyone goes out of sync sometimes.”

The Times added: “After 26 games, the Mariners have 12 errors from their third basemen – six each by Coles and Martinez. The rest of the team has committed only 15.” A few days later, Mike Blowers, playing third for the Yankees, also committed four errors in a game. In 1986, Bob Brenly did the same, but in a single inning.