Pedro Martinez's No. 45 jersey was retired by the Red Sox on Tuesday, with help from David Ortiz.
As a sold-out Fenway crowd chanted, “Pedro! Pedro!”, Ortiz and Martinez watched as his number added to the place of honor in the right-field upper deck.
.@45PedroMartinez takes his place among #RedSox legends. #PedroHOF pic.twitter.com/zqLdehBFUa
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) July 28, 2015MORE: Six most memorable moments on road to the Hall | Pedro's career, in pictures
"The one thing that I want to let you guys know is that my compadre Pedro Martinez, he wasn't just an unbelievable baseball player, he was a leader," Ortiz told the crowd. "He was one of the best players and person that I have ever met in my life. He encouraged all of us to be not just better as a player, but as a human being."
Martinez spent seven of his 18 big league seasons in Boston after signing a record six-year, $75 million contract in December 1997. During his time with the Red Sox, Martinez was 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.978 WHIP. He struck out 1,683 batters and threw 22 complete games. He won the AL Cy Young Award in 1999 and 2000.
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"Today I am extremely humbled to know that this day is happening. All I can do is reflect on all the joy, all the opportunities, all the great things that baseball has somehow made me live," Martinez said.
"I consider myself a blessed man, a unique person that had the luxury to live things that I never expected to live."
Martinez later threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.
On Sunday, Martinez, along with Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz, were enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Martinez is the first pitcher to have his number retired by the Red Sox, and his No. 45 joins a legendary list that includes No. 1 (Bobby Doerr), No. 4 (Joe Cronin), No. 6 (Johnny Pesky), No. 8 (Carl Yastrzemski), No. 9 (Ted Williams), No. 14 (Jim Rice), No. 27 (Carlton Fisk) and No. 42 (Jackie Robinson).
Martinez finished his career with a 219-100 record and 3,154 strikeouts. In addition to the Red Sox, he pitched for the Dodgers, Expos, Mets and Phillies.