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Buster Posey was born to be a star. Living in Leesburg, Georgia (current population 3,571), he was the oldest of four children and played and starred in four sports—baseball, football, soccer and basketball—in high school. Settling on baseball as the sport of his future he signed on to play for Mike Martin’s Seminoles in 2006. After starting all 65 games at shortstop and being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American , he made the most important move of his athletic career. Assistant Coach Mike Martin Jr. suggested that he move to catcher and the rest is history. Closing out his college career with a dazzling .463 avg in 2008 and 26 home runs while winning the prestigious Golden Spikes Award he was then drafted in the first round (5th pick) by the San Francisco Giants. In 2009 Buster married his high school sweetheart Kristen Powell. They met while taking the SATs in school. They have twins (a son and a daughter) in 2011 and adopted twin girls in 2020. In the Major Leagues the Posey Star shined even brighter as full-time catcher for the Giants. Before his retirement in November 2021, he had played in 1,371 games over 12 seasons with a .302 average including 158 home runs. He was a fan-favorite and a team spiritual leader as well. In 2018 Buster Posey was elected to the Florida State University Hall of Fame. His #8 baseball jersey was retired in a pregame ceremony on March 20, 2023. Then on October 2, 2024, the San Francisco Giants introduced Buster Posey as their new President of Baseball operations. Read more about Buster Posey on pages 52 and 175 in “11: Making Baseball History

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.

Assistant Coach Jamey Shouppe once described the way to get to the Drew’s house from Tallahassee was to go North to Georgia, “ then east past two barns to Hahira.” It’s a distance of 82 miles. What you find when you get there is a population of 3,384 and the home of three former major league players, two of which became shining stars in Seminole baseball history. David Jonathan Drew, called JD by everyone, is recognized by many as the greatest baseball player in Seminole history . Lending credence to that claim is the fact that he was the winner of the 1997 Golden Spikes award as Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year as well as the 1997 Dick Howser trophy. He was the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season. His batting average—.455—is the highest in FSU history. JD followed his Seminole career (1995-97) with 14 years in the Major Leagues. He played in 200 games in college and his #39 uniform was retired by Florida State on April 15, 2017. Stephen Drew followed his big brother to Florida State and played in 167 games from 2002-04. He was not intimidated by his brother’s accomplishments and had a stellar Seminole career. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2002 and earned All-ACC honors in all three seasons. Together JD and Stephen Drew left a very large footprint on Seminole Baseball History. Combined Seminole Totals by the combination of JD and Stephen Drew: 6 years: 367 games played; .372Avg; 1,377 At bats; 513 hits; 113 home runs; 426 RBI. Tim Drew, a pitcher, elected to forego college and turn pro in 1997. He received the Lou Boudreau Award as 1999 Minor League Player of the Year and pitched in the Majors for 5 years before retiring.

  Summary: Create a countdown of the most memorable moments in Coach Martin’s career. Draw on insights from 11: Making Baseball History, including pivotal games, career highlights, and defining wins. This could be a lively, visual blog that Seminole fans would enjoy, with details on each game or moment that marked a turning point. Potential Sections: Clutch Wins and Close Calls: The Most Thrilling Victories Defining Career Milestones: What Set 11 Apart The Emotional Farewell Season: Highlights from 2019 11’s Legacy in 5 Unforgettable Moments

  Summary: This post could explore the lesser-known aspects of Coach Martin’s life, particularly his faith-based approach and relentless drive. Highlight how, despite obstacles (including his father’s doubts), Martin achieved legendary status. You might include quotes from 11: Making Baseball History to show the determination and resilience that were pivotal in his journey. Potential Sections: Early Setbacks and How They Shaped 11’s Character The Role of Faith in Martin’s Coaching Philosophy Achieving Greatness the Right Way: Sportsmanship and Integrity A Legacy That Extends Beyond Wins and Losses

  Summary: Dive into Mike Martin’s incredible impact on Florida State University’s baseball program. Highlight his early challenges, the values he brought to the team, and his commitment to elevating FSU baseball. Include anecdotes from 11: Making Baseball History that illustrate his dedication and how his principles of hard work and faith shaped FSU baseball into a powerhouse. Potential Sections: The Early Days: Following Legends Woody Woodward and Dick Howser Building an Elite Program: Key Changes and Milestones The Values that Built Champions What 11’s Legacy Means for Future Generations of Seminoles