Buck Martinez

About Buck Martinez

John Albert "Buck" Martinez (born November 7, 1948 in Redding, California) is a former catcher, manager and is currently a play-by-play commentator in Major League Baseball. He also managed the American national team at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

Martinez attended Elk Grove High School, Sacramento City College, Sacramento State University and Southwestern Missouri State University.

Martinez made his major league debut in 1969, playing 72 games with the Kansas City Royals. Over the next few years, however, he developed the reputation of being an offensive liability, and he never appeared in more than 95 games during his time with Kansas City (through 1977).