MIKE AND MIKE

Mike Martin coached plenty of standout players during his career, including College Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mike Fuentes (left). A slugging outfielder, Fuentes became the first Seminole to win the Golden Spikes Award in 1981. Fuentes first tried out for the team in 1977 but didn’t make the final cut. Ironically, Martin, then an assistant coach, oversaw the walk-on program. “I saw he had a good arm,” Martin said. “But we just didn’t need him. It’s incredible to think of now, but we didn’t need him.” The humble Fuentes took to the intramural fields instead, impressing everyone in his path. Martin eventually asked Fuentes for another tryout, and this time he stuck. Fuentes went on to set the NCAA career home run record with 64 (since broken) and elevate FSU to one of the nation’s best programs.