North Carolina State University Athletics
CARR: Health Issues Just Another Beaten Opponent For Martin
2/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BY A.J. CARR
Long ago life threw Steve Martin a curveball.
He responded by slamming it out of the park.
A diabetic since early childhood, Martin never let that health issue stop him from pursuing lofty goals. He walked on the NC State baseball team, became a robust-hitting right fielder, a team captain, a second-team All-American and a star on the Wolfpack’s 1968 club that finished third in the College World Series.
That’s also why he will be inducted into NC State’s Baseball Hall of Fame at a Saturday night ceremony along with pitcher Dan Plesac and infielder Doug Strange, two former major leaguers.
“Very surprised was my first reaction — and I’m very honored,” said Martin, a 63-year-old retired land developer who lives near Lincolnton with his wife, Cecelia.
To State’s baseball followers Martin’s selection isn’t a surprise.
Playing in the wooden-bat era, he hit .360 his sophomore season, then posted a career-high mark of .370 as a junior in ‘68, when he led the ACC in runs scored with 35.
“He was an everyday player, came to play every day,’’ said former Wolfpack coach Sam Esposito.
On the biggest stage, in the College World Series — the lefthanded swinging Martin was at his booming best. He led State in virtually every offensive category — batting average, hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, triples, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
The key to his batting prowess?
“I could pick up the ball when it left the pitcher’s hand and follow it all the way until it hit the bat,’’ said Martin, whose mother, Rachel, began pitching to him when he was knee-high to a fungo. “I could see the ball rotating on a curve. I concentrated on that all my life.”
His father, Maurice, while disabled, made sure his son got to play ball after the plowing was done.
Martin grew up on a farm in Lawsonville and picked up the nickname “Mule” from his NC State teammates. All along he had to pull an extra load, dealing with the diabetes as well as fireballing pitchers.
He took insulin shots each morning. During games he drank milk and ate peanut butter and crackers. Not exactly traditional ballpark food, but it helped sustain his energy.
“I would eat about the fifth inning; I could tell when my blood sugar was dropping,” Martin said.
Teammate Francis Combs recalled when Martin got up in the middle of the night during a trip to Virginia and gave himself an insulin shot.. That alarmed then sports information director Frank Weedon.
“Frank thought he was on dope,’‘ said Combs, a standout catcher. “That was kind of funny. Frank didn’t know he was diabetic.”
Martin’s Wolfpack career ended on a dour note. An ankle injury, suffered sliding into second base, blighted his senior year. Unable to firmly plant his right foot affected his stride at the plate, and his average dipped to .259.
Still, he wound up a .337 career hitter and was the good team captain. Not the rah-rah, pep-talk type, but rather a veteran who led with a calm demeanor and clout at the plate..
“He was a hard worker, such a good hitter, a good teammate, a great guy,’’ Combs said. “He was low-key. Everybody liked him and looked up to him.”
After graduating with a degree in parks & recreation, Martin helped raise a daughter (Michele, a Raleigh doctor) with his first wife and launched a long business career as a developer in Charlotte.
Though officially retired, he remains actively involved with Verdict Ridge Golf and Country Club in Denver, N.C., which he helped start.
Three days a week Martin goes for dialysis treatments, a tiring, six-hour procedure he starts at 5:30 a.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“I look at it as a part-time job,’‘ he said of the hospital visits. “Other than the dialysis, I’m good and moving. I’m busy.”
His agenda includes speaking to youth groups for the Diabetic Association, serving in the Lutheran Church, supporting NC State athletics, and remaining connected to his Wolfpack teammates via e-mail and phone calls.
Scouting area high school baseball players is a hobby that consumes much of his time as well. His recommendations to college coaches about prospects have resulted in scholarships for several players.
Back in his day baseball scholarships were scarce at NC State. He only received aid for books his senior year. But all Martin asked for coming out of high school was a chance.
“I wanted to prove something for the team and for me,” he said. “I would do it for nothing. I just enjoyed playing.”
