When Mike Martin was awarded the head baseball coaching job in 1980
He was following a couple of Major Leaguers. Dick Howser of the Cleveland Indians and Woody Woodward of the Milwaukee Braves. Both were former Seminole Players: Howser (1956-58) and Woodward (1962-63).
11: Martin’s uniform number and future monicker played centerfield for the Seminoles in 1965-66 and wore #15 at the time. He was later hired by Howser as an assistant coach. He asked for the #15 uniform, but it was taken, so he settled on #11. Then in 1980 when Howser got the New York Yankees Manager job Martin took over the head coaching job a position he would hold for 40 years in becoming the all-time winningest coach in college sports history. His extraordinary accomplishments are profiled in the book; 11: Making Baseball History. Here are some of Martin’s Major Milestones that you’ll read about:
11’s First Win: February 24, 1980, vs the arch rival Hurricanes in Miami; It was his 3rd game as Head Coach and the Seminoles defeated the Hurricanes 9-8 when Mike Yastrzemski (son of major league star Carl Yastrzemski) hit a 3-run homer off future Major League pitcher Neal Heaton.
500th win: February 5, 1989, 8-3, vs Arizona State at Howser Stadium.
1000th win: April 8, 1998, 4-3,vs Jacksonville University at Howser Stadium.
1500th win: March 16, 2008, 17-8, vs Georgia Tech at Howser Stadium,
2000th win: March 9, 2018, 5-2 vs VA Tech at Howser Stadium
2029th win: June 15, 2019, 1,-0, vs. Arkansas at College World Series,
It was 11’s 17th trip to the College World Series and the Seminoles opened up with a victory over the Razorbacks to put them in the Winner’s bracket, once again firing up hopes of becoming National Champions. Alas it was not to be as FSU lost to Michigan and Texas Tech. So, Martin headed into retirement with no championship but with more wins than any other coach, ever!
In 2005 the Seminoles renamed their stadium. It will be forever known as
Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. For this story and many others look in the book: 11:Making Baseball History.