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Martinez, Andreychuk Enter Hall

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By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

TAMPA - Tino Martinez and Dave Andreychuk have experienced the highest levels of professional sports.

Martinez captured four world championship trophies while playing first base for the New York Yankees.

Andreychuk capped his 1,639-game NHL career by lifting the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004.

You'd think honors and awards would be routine by now.

Not so.

Friday night was special.

Martinez and Andreychuk - along with Jim Courier of Dade City, the former world No. 1-ranked tennis player, and the late Freddie Lee Dyles, boys basketball coach at St. Petersburg's Gibbs High School - were inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay's Hall of Fame during the club's 47th annual sports award banquet at Higgins Hall.

"It never gets old," said Martinez, who played with Jefferson High and the University of Tampa before beginning his professional career. "Even when I was away with the Yankees, I always felt the embrace of this community. This is my hometown. That's what makes it memorable."

For Andreychuk, who was honored in his adopted hometown, the night was equally unique.

"I remember coming here with some trepidation, wondering what it would be like to play hockey in Florida, how it would be received, what kind of success we would have," Andreychuk said. "Obviously, it turned out extremely well. And our family has come to love this place."

Andreychuk said there's a photograph of him lifting the Cup in the aftermath of Game 7 - the 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames - in his home office. He looks at it nearly every day.

Even Friday night, just remembering that night, Andreychuk said, "I'm getting chills."

So was Martinez, a two-time American League All-Star who was then a first baseman with the Rays. There was no game that Monday night, and Martinez was in the house, cheering for the Lightning.

"Every day, somebody reminds me of the moment, not that I need reminding," said Andreychuk, who was inducted last year into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, honoring his time with the Buffalo Sabres, one of his six NHL stops. "I think it created a real bond between our players and the community.

"As more time goes on, you realize those things don't happen every day. It was rare. It was special. To be honored and remembered in this community is the same thing - rare and special."

Martinez, back working for the Yankees as a consultant to General Manager Brian Cashman and assisting on the baseball staff at the University of South Florida, is accustomed to being mentioned in the same breath as local baseball standouts such as Wade Boggs, Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff, Luis Gonzalez, Lou Piniella and Steve Garvey.

"Anytime you're recognized for accomplishments as a Tampa athlete, it means something," Martinez said. "The caliber of athletes from this area is very well-known. To be in that group is humbling."

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

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