Hall of Fame
Luke Martin was a member of the Eagles’ baseball team from 1997-00. By the time his four-year career ended, Martin had garnered numerous accolades for his performance on the baseball field. He earned All-Conference recognition in each of his four seasons and was named to the All-Region XIV team in 1999 and 2000.
1999 was perhaps the best season for Martin who was an integral part of the Eagles’ success throughout his career. He led the team from the mound posting a team-low 2.14 earned run average with a 9-2 record, seven complete games, three shutouts, four saves and 151 strikeouts in 117.2 innings of work to earn first team All-America honors. While his pitching was worthy of recognition in and of itself, Martin was also a force at the plate. He hit .440 (33-75) with six doubles and two home runs in 19 starts. With all his accomplishments that year, Martin is most remembered for pitching the only perfect game in Embry-Riddle history, leading the Eagles to a 4-0 shutout of Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Eight years after finishing his college career, Martin still owns numerous career pitching records at Embry-Riddle, including wins (37), appearances (85), complete games (32), shutouts (7), innings pitched (437) and strikeouts (506). A testament to his versatility, Martin is also among the Eagles’ top 10 in saves (4th, 10) and holds the single-season batting average record (.440, 1999) and is second in single-season on base percentage (.532, 1999).
Martin was drafted in the 34th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. He spent one season playing in the Appalachian League and earned Pitcher of the Year honors as a rookie.
Martin graduated from Embry-Riddle with a degree in Aviation Business Administration and currently works as a Systems Integration Project Manager for Lockheed Martin in Orlando.
“The amazing thing about Luke’s career is that his incredible statistics do not do justice to his overall impact to the team. What the stats won’t show is his leadership in the dugout as well as on the mound. His presence on the mound inspired the players around him at a higher level.”
Mike Magee
Embry-Riddle (1995-99)
“(Luke) was just as competitive in the classroom. He was a leader as a student and proved to be an exceptional example of what a student-athlete should be both on and off the field.”
Douglas Bridges
Embry-Riddle (1998)
“Although Luke amassed records at Embry-Riddle that will undoubtedly be etched in stone and may never be broke, the reason he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame goes well beyond his baseball ability. Luke was a leader on and off the field. Luke embodied what Embry-Riddle stands for and lived it everyday. Luke was the consummate student, person and player that our athletic department asked of every athlete. He demanded excellence of himself on and off the diamond.”
Matt Hanson
Embry-Riddle
