Tino Martinez brings leadership, experience to St. Louis; former Yankee first baseman strives to fill void left by Mark McGwire's retirement.(American Baseball League)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE LOUSIEST cab ride of Tino Martinez's life. As the clock ticked into last November 5, Martinez was riding to the Phoenix airport from Bank One Ballpark, where the first baseman and the rest of the New York Yankees had done the unthinkable: They lost the World Series.

Martinez had been a World Series champion four times in pinstripes, and like the rest of the Yankees, he had expected to win again. Now the season had ended with a crushing defeat, and his career in New York had ended as well. The rumors said Martinez was out, and stellar prospect Nick Johnson would be taking over at first.

What Tino Martinez did in that dark moment tells you a great deal about him, and about why he is regarded not only as a great player but as one of the best people in baseball.

Martinez pulled out his Cell phone and called to leave a message for a childhood friend. Not just any friend, but Luis Gonzalez--the man whose bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning had given the Arizona Diamondbacks the World Series and caused the very funk that would plague Martinez all winter.

"He's a great friend and we grew up together," Martinez said matter-of-factly. "I was disappointed that I lost the World Series, but excited that he got to experience winning it."

Gonzalez received many congratulatory phone messages that night. The first came from his Tampa Catholic High School teammate.

Martinez's productive and rewarding six-year Yankees career was, in fact, over--but instead of Johnson, it was former American League MVP Jason Giambi who took his place.