Seattle Mariners retiring Edgar Martinez's jersey

Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Mark it down in your calendars, Seattle Mariners fans.

Edgar Martinez will have his No. 11 retired on Aug. 12 at Safeco Field. The team made the announcement Tuesday at a special press conference. Only Ken Griffey Jr.'s No. 24 currently hangs up, among former Mariners to have their jersey retired, at Safeco Field. The Mariners host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at 7:10 p.m. that Friday.

Griffey, a Hall of Fame inductee in 2016, had his jersey retired last season. Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is retired by every team in baseball.

"That's going to be special knowing my number is going to be next to Junior's, one of the greatest players that played the game...Also next to the great Jackie Robinson," Martinez said in a release. "That's amazing. Something that I would never expect looking back at my career. It will be a reminder how lucky I am to be able to be there with them."

Martinez, 54, appeared on 58.6 percent of Hall of Fame ballots this year. He needs that number to rise to 75 percent to be inducted. No Mariners players have worn No. 11 since Martinez retired in 2004. The number returned when he became the team's hitting coach in 2015.

The seven-time All-Star hit .312 in 18 seasons with the Mariners. He retired with 309 career home runs. Martinez had the best batting average in baseball twice during his tenure.

"There is a lot of people along the way who have helped and made a player better," Martinez said in a release.

"Obviously my managers and coaches, obviously Lou Piniella. Through the years, I learned so much from him that made me better. Also, players like Junior, obviously, Ken Griffey, Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson, players like that also made me better."