Former FSU baseball players share their memories of playing for legendary Mike Martin

It was the moment when Mike Martin, Jr. realized his Dad did more than coach baseball at Florida State. He witnessed firsthand how his Dad also impacted lives.

Even one whose would soon be considered one of the most influential athletes in American sports history.

Mike Martin had already established himself as one of college baseball's best coaches by the time Martin, Jr. decided he wanted to be a Seminole in the mid-1990s. It was during an appearance in the College World Series when Martin, Jr., the team's starting catcher, saw Deion Sanders high step into FSU's dugout at Rosenblatt Stadium before a game.

Sanders, in full Prime-Time mode with his flamboyant personality and flashy playing style in the NFL and Major League Baseball, was in tears as he hugged Martin.

"I will never forget the impact of that moment," Martin Jr. said.

Sanders, now known as Coach Prime across college football as the head coach at Colorado, publicly shared his affection for Martin on social media Thursday following the news of Martin's death earlier in the day.

Martin, the winningest coach in college baseball history, died three years after a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.

He was 79.

"God bless all the family, friends, former players and all on behalf of Coach Mike Martin," Sanders, who played outfield at FSU under Martin from 1986-88, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He was 1 of the best baseball minds in the game. I respected & adored him truly. He's a legend, a winner but most of all a good man."

Former FSU baseball players under Mike Martin share their memories of Eleven

A flood of memories and tributes to that good man have been shared in conversations, text messages and on social media the past 48 hours.

Martin, called "Eleven" for his jersey number, was a fixture at FSU and in Tallahassee nearly 60 years. His FSU rosters over the decades featured local and area players, many of whom - including son Bryan and son-in-law Mark Sauls - held "Eleven" in high regard.

Tyler Holton, a left-handed pitcher from Lincoln High who played at FSU from 2016-18, recalled Martin's intensity in practice. Martin often yelled "This one takes us back" during drills and scrimmages in reference to a return trip to the CWS in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 2017 after FSU swept Sam Houston State in two games at Howser Stadium to win the Super Regional and earn a berth to the CWS, Martin slowly walked into the locker room before he erupted, slamming his hands on a table and screaming, "We're going back."

"It still gives me chills remembering those emotions," said Holton, named the Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year last season as voted on by members of the Detroit Sports Media Association. "I will forever be grateful for my time as a Seminole and playing for Eleven."

Martin capped his 40-year head coaching career at FSU in 2019 with his 40th NCAA Tournament appearance, his 40th winning season and his 17th CWS appearance, tied for the most all-time. Martin is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history, for any sport, with a 2,029-736-4 career record.

It's a bummer Martin never won a CWS title, but that blank line in his legendary resume never defined him.

Sadly, Martin barely had time to embrace retirement as he was initially diagnosed with dementia in the summer of 2021. Wife Carol shared the news publicly for the first time in October 2023. Martin, known for his competitiveness on the field and kindness of it, was a patient at a Tallahassee memory care center and since mid-January under hospice care.

Gary Sprague is a longtime family friend of the Martins and former teammate of Martin's at FSU. The pair played one season together in 1966, with Sprague seeing Martin and Carol for the first time when he sat behind the two at the Varsity Theatre in the Varsity Shopping Center on West Tennessee Street. When Sprague signed a professional contract, he lived across the street from the Martins in matching mobile homes off Highway 20.

"When I'd visit, Carol would usually make us a milkshake," laughed Sprague, whose son Geoff would later play for Martin at FSU (1996-97). "I'd go over there every Wednesday night. Looking back on all the great times, it's just amazing."

Mike McLeod, a former pitcher at Godby High, played at FSU (1975-77) when Martin was an assistant under Woody Woodward. After a brief stint professionally with the New York Yankees, McLeod returned to FSU as Martin's pitching coach (1982-90).

McLeod's first encounter with Martin wasn't on the baseball field, however. It was on the basketball court, where Martin was Godby's basketball coach in the early 1970s.

"I was the last guy he cut from the varsity team - and I never let him forget it," McLeod said and laughed.

McLeod will never forget Martin either.

He will be one of six pallbearers at Martin's burial, joining former FSU coaches and players Chip Baker, Clyde Keller, Mike Bell, Steve Winterling and Randy Gailey. A public memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 10, at noon at Howser Stadium on the field that bears Martin's name.

The service won't go extra innings, Martin's orders. The baseball team will scrimmage at 1 p.m. followed by the annual Fan Day's autograph session with players and coaches.

The Road to Omaha starts in Tallahassee for Seminoles coach Link Jarrett, too.

Mike Martin had his own language on the baseball field

Adam Faurot was a two-year infielder at FSU (1995-96) from Blountstown. A versatile player and career .331 hitter, Faurot was also considered an exceptional bunter. Faurot said Martin had his own language on the field in "how he would describe things." When Faurot stepped into the batter's box and glanced at Martin in the dugout, Martin's strategy was often crystal clear.

To only Faurot.

"It was if he wanted to get his point across and it was also a vote of confidence," said Faurot, whose son Drew is in his first season at FSU after he transferred from UCF. "If he shrugged his shoulders with his palms up and said, "You never know," I knew exactly what he wanted me to do without exception.

"Bunt."

Pitcher Chris Chavez, an All-American for the Seminoles during their national runner-up finish in 1999, was a fan of the Seminoles as a youth in Pensacola. When Chavez arrived in Tallahassee as a freshman in 1995, he presented Martin an autographed baseball signed by Martin and his 1986 Seminoles team.

An appreciative Martin kept the baseball in his locker that season, only to return it to Chavez at season's end "because he knew how much FSU meant to me," Chavez said. And while Chavez was in good academic standing during his career, he had to appear twice in front of the school's Academic Board for missing classes due to baseball.

Guess who marched into the meetings with him?

"Eleven said 'Don't worry, I have your back,' " said Chavez, who provided color commentary at FSU home games last season on ACC Network Extra. "Fans see the coach on the field, the wins and losses, but they don't see what he did off the field to make a difference in our lives. It was a pleasure to play for that man."

Tallahassee's Michael Hyde (Lincoln) and Brandon Reichert (Godby) were FSU teammates for two seasons (2006-07).

Hyde recalled the time when FSU arrived back at Howser Stadium around midnight after a tough series at Miami. Martin ordered the team to follow him to Mike Long Track, where Martin led players on a long run "with the message being centered around us winning, losing and staying together," Hyde said.

Reichert, at age 14, introduced himself to Martin at a local restaurant as Martin read the newspaper and had coffee. "I told him I was going to play for him one day," said Reichert, who also provided color commentary at FSU home games last season for ACC Network Extra. "He smiled and said, 'Okay, nice to meet you.'

"I will say this. I 100% knew I was playing for a Hall of Fame coach while I was there. He was the most organized and thorough coach I played for."

Over the years, Martin adapted with the times. His resourcefulness to teach and play different styles was important. And while pitching, defense and baserunning were cornerstones to Martin's unprecedented success, he also taught more than the game.

My interactions with Eleven were professional and personal.

I first covered his team dating back to the late 1980s, when I was with the Tampa Tribune. I had the opportunity to watch my younger brother Scott hit a home run at Howser Stadium for USF during a regional. Of course, I always knew son Bryan's goal was to play baseball at FSU under Eleven. Fortunately, it happened and we have a lifetime of cherished memories from it.

When I telephoned Eleven either for a story or to just check in, he always asked about our family. Always.

Eleven was a winner. He also had the ability to touch lives.

Just ask Martin, Jr. and Prime Time.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Legendary FSU baseball coach Mike Martin leaves lasting legacy, memories