BRONX, N.Y. — On this date in 1995, the New York Yankees traded for first baseman Tino Martinez. The deal brought Martinez, 28, and relief pitchers Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir to the Bronx. In exchange, the Yankees sent third baseman Russ Davis and starting pitcher Sterling Hitchcock to the Seattle Mariners.
At initial glance, this trade crushed me as a kid when I saw it flash across the local 6 p.m. sportscast. Martinez just crushed the Yankees in the ALDS. Plus, growing up watching the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees, I was a big fan of Davis, who earned the 1992 Eastern League MVP.