In a private conversation that came close on the heels of the Blue Jays’ letdown 2014 season, Alex Anthopoulos disclosed his top priority for the off-season: “Signing Russell Martin.” Beyond the baseball reasons for the GM’s enthusiasm about Martin—superlative pitch-framing, good offensive numbers and plenty of post-season experience—he also sees plenty of off-field upside in the catcher, a strong character who also happens to be from Montreal and a French-speaker.
Martin’s (primarily) Montreal upbringing is very much the focus of Stephen Brunt’s feature in the current issue of Sportsnet magazine. With unique access to both of Martin’s parents, Brunt plumbs terrific details about his early days practising at the Big O, his predilection for Parisian croissants, and his talent as an amateur drummer. Here are three more things we learned about the Blue Jays’ new No. 55.
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Why the Blue Jays went all in with Russell Martin, and answers to the 12 questions that will define the baseball season. Download it right now on your iOS or Android device, free to Sportsnet ONE subscribers.
1) When Martin was seven, his dad asked a group of 12-year-olds if his son could play with them. They (skeptically) allowed Martin to pitch one inning; he struck out the three batters he faced.
2) Martin’s parents split when he was very young and for a couple of years, he went to school in France while summering in Montreal. At age 12, he opted to move in full-time with his dad. “He knew that meant baseball year-round,” says his mom, Suzanne Jeanson, who had moved back to Quebec by then.
3) Martin’s dad, Russell Martin Sr., is a tenor saxophone player and, while raising Martin, he made his living busking in Montreal Metro stations. This meant that they sometimes made do with sparse resources, but they never wanted for good food. About his dad’s chili, Martin says: “The first day it’s good. The second day it’s even better. The third day is probably when it’s at its best… the flavour has really sunk in.”
