SEATTLE'S HITTING MASTER.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

SEATTLE - Edgar Martinez has not always been sentimental about holding on to baseball memorabilia.

Yet, the day after he set the Mariners' career RBI record, the ball he hit out of Edison Field in Anaheim for his 1,153rd run batted in was sitting in his crowded locker at Safeco Field.

"It's here somewhere," Martinez said. "I think it is that one, or maybe this one. We got in here late last night and I just threw everything in here, but I will save it."

Martinez also has the ball he smacked for his 2,000th hit earlier this season, as well as his first hit in 1987. Somewhere, he has the ball for his 1,000th hit and 1,000th RBI, too.

"I am trying to be better about saving some of the stuff, like bats and balls," Martinez said. "I had the opportunity to collect stuff from over the years and I really didn't do it, which I regret a little bit now."

That is about the only regret for the 40-year-old designated hitter, who is spending his 16th summer in Seattle. Only Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin, who has been with the Reds since 1986, has a longer tenure with one team among active players.

While superstars like Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, and manager Lou Piniella have departed the Mariners in recent seasons, Martinez has always stayed home.

"I feel good about that, it doesn't happen often anymore," Martinez said. "Being able to stay with this club, it is kind of special because we have had a great relationship over the years. I have been blessed to stay with one team."

By sticking around, Martinez has been able to set numerous club records. He is Seattle's all-time leader in games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, and walks.

He added to that list when he passed Griffey for the RBI record.

"What feels good is to be able to have that many RBIs. Being the team leader is nice, but who will remember that in a couple of years," Martinez said with a laugh. "It is just a stat, so what I am really happy about is that I have been able to be consistent over the years. That is what that number says."

Martinez, who began his professional career playing for Bellingham in the Northwest League in 1983, knows the number 1,153 won't exactly become part of baseball lore.

"I didn't even know until a week before how close I was to the record," he said. "It is not the kind of stat like 3,000 hits or 500 home runs or anything like that."

To his teammates, it is not the statistics, but the approach that Martinez takes at the plate that stands out. Martinez is bating .312 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs this season.

"To me, he is the art of hitting," Seattle third baseman Jeff Cirillo said.

"He would be able to teach that, but calling him a professor is not giving him enough credit. He's sort of like the Albert Einstein of hitting, maybe something between Einstein and a professor. Calling him a professor is not good enough, and Albert Einstein is probably a bit too much."

Martinez, who has won two American League batting titles, is strictly a hitter these days and was voted to the All-Star Game by fans as the designated hitter.

He was limited to being a pinch-hitter during interleague games in National League cities that did not feature the designated hitter, but there are no more such games on the schedule.

"I feel good about being in the lineup on a regular basis instead of being sidelined for interleague play," Martinez said. "I'm glad that is over now. You get in a groove when you play every day."

Martinez has batted over .300 in all 10 seasons that he has played in at least 100 games.

"You watch how he controls his at-bats, he doesn't swing at balls and he will take a walk," Cirillo said. "You see guys with a high average and they are very selective and patient, they don't give at-bats away."

Martinez was hampered by hamstring and knee injuries last year and played in only 97 games.

Frustrated by the injuries, it seemed possible that the Mariners might be without Martinez this year for the first time since 1986.

"That was a possibility last year, I didn't know what I was going to do," Martinez said.

"Either not play or try to go one more year."

Martinez signed a one-year contract in November, but he is not making any decisions beyond this season.

"I don't know yet, I'll decide that later in the year," he said.

If Martinez returns to the Mariners next season, it would mark his 22nd season with the only organization he has ever known.

"There is always comfort in knowing where you are going to be and what your role is going to be," Martinez said.

CAPTION(S):

Edgar Martinez, who has spent his entire 16-year career in Seattle, tips his hat to the Safeco Field crowd after getting hit No. 2,000 earlier this season.