A scrappy ballplayer, Billy Martin starred in several World Series for the New York Yankees, but was eventually traded because he was a bad influence on Mickey Mantle. He won four World Series with the Yankees as a player and another as manager. In several managerial stints with the Yankees, Martin posted a .591 winning percentage but was still fired five times by George Steinbrenner. He is the only manager to lead four teams to the post-season.
Quotes About Billy Martin
"There's a manager I could play for." — Reggie Jackson talking about Billy Martin, when Jackson was with the Orioles in 1976.
"I'd fire my mother for the chance to hire Billy Martin." — Rangers owner Bob Short, defending his firing of Whitey Herzog to make way for Martin
"Even when Billy's not around, he's in ever mind. It's like a spiritual involvement with the Lord. You can't see him, but you know he's there. That's enough." — Oakland pitcher Mike Norris
Quotes From Billy Martin
"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." — Billy Martin, on Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner
"I owe it to my health and mental well-being to resign at this time, and I am very sorry that there were things written about George Steinbrenner. He did not deserve them, nor did I say them. George and I have had our differences, and in most cases we have been able to resolve them." — Billy Martin, announcing his "resignation" as Yankee manager in the middle of the 1978 season
"If they can win with that club, I'm a Chinese aviator." — Billy Martin, explaining why he thought the Brewers would not stay at the top of the American League East division in 1973
Teams Billy Martin Played For
New York Yankees (1950-1957) Kansas City Athletics (1957) Detroit Tigers (1958) Cleveland Indians (1959) Cincinnati Reds (1960) Milwaukee Braves (1961) Minnesota Twins (1961)
Teams Billy Martin Managed
Minnesota Twins (1969) Detroit Tigers (1971-1973) Texas Rangers (1973-1974) New York Yankees (1975) Texas Rangers (1975) New York Yankees (1976-1979) Oakland Athletics (1980-1982) New York Yankees (1983-1988)
Best Season: 1953 In many ways this was the best season by the scrappy middle infielder. He hit .257 in a career-high 149 games as the Yanks starting second baseman. Martin had 15 homers and 75 RBI - very impressive numbers for a second baseman of that era. In the World Series he almost single-handedly dismantled the Dodgers, hitting .500 (12-for-24) with a double, two triples, two homers, eight RBI, and a stolen base.
As a manager, his best season was 1977, when he led the Yankees to their first World Series title in 15 years. Despite all the egos and in-fighting on that team, the troubled Martin still managed to coax greatness out of the players.
Factoids During his entire career as a player and manager, Billy Martin wore a cross somewhere on his uniform (often on his cap).
Future Managers who Played for Billy Martin Jim Fregosi, Mike Hargrove, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Davey Lopes, Don Baylor, Willie Randolph
Billy's Brawls In 1969, while managing the Twins, Martin punched one of his pitcher's, Dave Boswell, so hard that he needed 20 stitches.
In Detroit, Martin traded punches with minor leaguer Ike Blessitt during spring training in 1973.
Martin and Ed Whitson had a celebrated fight in New York in the 1980s, which resulted in several stitches for Martin, who came out on the wrong end of the tussle.
Description Billy Martin went through life witha chip on his shoulder. A very interesting psychological profile of Martin would probably reveal that his brash and abrasive manner masked a severe inferiority complex and feelings of inadaquecy. If anyone was ever afflicted with "little man syndrome," it was Billy.
Where He Played Second base (767), shortstop (118), third base (97)
As a Manager When Twins' owner Calvin Griffith asked Martin why he started Bob Miller in the final game of the 1969 Playoffs, which Minnesota lost to Baltimore, Martin snapped, "Because I'm the manager." Three days later, Martin was not the manager.
Born Alfred Manuel Martin was born on May 16, 1928, in Berkeley, CA.
Similar Players Jimmy Bloodworth, Leo Durocher, Mike Andrews, Charlie Neal and Don Zimmer as a player; John McGraw, Leo Durocher and Phil Garner as a manager.
Related Players Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Jerry Coleman, Yogi Berra, Dave Boswell, Ed Whitson, Reggie Jackson
Post-Season Appearances
1951 World Series
1952 World Series
1953 World Series
1955 World Series
1956 World Series
Post-Season Notes Martin was a career .333 (33-for-99) hitter in the World Series, with 19 RBI and 15 runs scored in 28 games.
