Tino Martinez--the slugging first baseman of the New York Yankees--believes in hard work. As a child he tore a hole in the backyard fence by hitting baseballs off a tee in an effort to perfect his swing. The hard work paid off as Martinez has established himself as one of the most feared hitters in major league baseball--first with the Seattle Mariners and then with the New York Yankees. In 1997 he arrived as a superstar, producing the best numbers of his career and finishing second in the balloting for American League Most Valuable Player. Despite his success, Martinez remembers the lessons he learned from his father, the hardest working man he ever knew.

Growing up

Family business

Constantino Martinez was born December 7, 1967, in Tampa, Florida. He was the second of three sons of Rene and Sylvia Martinez. Sylvia Martinez was a school teacher and her husband was the...