Notre Dame de Grace has produced its share of hockey stars over the years. But the Montreal borough boasts a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner in Russell Martin.
Last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers star won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the National League's best defensive catcher in 2007 and the Louisville Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive player at his position after hitting .293 with 19 home runs, 87 RBIs and a .477 slugging percentage.
Winners for both the awards are selected by major-league managers and coaches.
Martin, 24, played several seasons for the N.D.G. Baseball Association youth teams during the 1990s before launching a career that saw him named the NL's starting catcher at this year's all-star game.
For Terry Doucet, who mentored Martin as a youngster, the Los Angeles Dodgers catcher is a product of talent and work ethic.
"I remember taking my wife to work at 7 in the morning and you'd drive by Loyola Park and see Russell out there running by himself," Doucet recalled. "He wasn't the fastest player on our team, but he worked at it. Look at him now." Martin was fast enough to steal 21 bases and score 87 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year, not bad for a guy with a stocky catcher's physique at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds.
The Gold Glover, who once called Montreal West home, also spent much of his minor-league career as a third baseman before the Los Angeles Dodgers converted him to catcher. The move paid off this season as Martin led the majors in a slew of statistical categories, including games played (145), innings caught (1,254) and putouts (1,065). Martin's strong arm allowed him to throw out 29.7 per cent of would-be base stealers, the fourth-best mark in the NL.
Martin was just as valuable at the plate. He led NL catchers in hits (157), homers (19), runs (87), stolen bases (21), batting average (.297), on-base percentage (.380) and slugging percentage (.477).
Doucet, director of coaching for N.D.G. minor baseball, had no inkling Martin would become a major-league star back then.
"I could see he was a good player, but I've never coached another player who went on to the majors, so I really had nothing to compare him to," Doucet said.
"I couldn't say: 'I once coached Mickey Mantle and this kid is as as good' or whatever." What struck Doucet most about young Martin was his dedication to work.
"There were a lot of other good players on those N.D.G. teams, but no one worked as hard as Russell to improve. He worked his butt off. He could pretty much do anything. He pitched, played shortstop and caught for us," he said.
Martin, adept at blocking balls in the dirt, also showed grit as a youngster.
"Russell would never come out a game even if his arm hurt. He would always finish the job." Doucet said Martin's ascendancy to baseball stardom has been a feather in the cap for N.D.G. baseball.
"It's fabulous for us, and all the kids around here know who he is. Sure it puts N.D.G. on the baseball map, but most of all it encourages kids who want to work hard." jmeagher@ thegazette.canwest.com
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