Controversy personified....not a passive observer in the dugout but an agitator, a provoker, divisive force of nature...even Billy’s middle finger edging down the shaft of his supporting bat gives away a rough, hard, exterior....but as baseball minds go he had few peers....as a player Martin is a solid but unspectacular infielder.....Known for clutch hitting and excellent WS production, Martin was holding court with Mantle, Ford, and Berra but entrenched in the NYY celebrity club with its price of fame possibly setting off a cult of personality....best season was 1953 was soon nullified with a near two years slated for military service....Departed with a bang being named 1953 WS MVP.....Returns to full time 1955-56.....traded mid season 1957 , tears through six franchises in a nomadic existence for the remaining 5 years of his playing days possibly fueled by brawls on and off the field....his bill vocational line was a .257 BA career....pivotal to his future was his last club the Minnesota Twins, who gave him apprenticeship starting as scout, then third base coach, then AAA Denver manager.....Named to take the helm for 1969 season and responding by capturing the first AL West crown with 17 more wins from the year prior....Martin, whose brashness had sculpted to become a front office antagonist was dismissed....other factors could have been the fight with pitcher Dave Boswell and a quick sweep at the hands of Orioles in the ALCS....After a season of radio work, Martin resurfaces with the Detroit Tigers.....regroups the veteran squad to a 12 game improvement....good for 2nd place in AL East, then a hard won AL East crown in 1972...Tiger town relations soured and departed with a month to go in 1973.....Immediately scooped up by the hapless Texas Rangers.....another dramatic turnaround of 27 games....using a patchwork of various discarded veterans and promising youngsters made the newly replanted franchise competitive.....Once again the heads butt and is out late 75....As Texas did two summers prior, Martin is immediately pluck the Yankee prodigal son from expulsion near three decades ago....So begins the odyssey that earmarked his relationship with owner George Steinbrenner....Now armed with deep pockets and pre-established talent pool NYY make it WS in 1976.....take the Crown in 1977.....The incumbent winner Martin starts the 1978 but is dismissed mid season, one of several instances....Bronx Bombers Role call goes as follows completes 1979, full season 1983, once completes 1985, and is the initial skipper in 1988....only respite from revolving door was a three year homecoming to his native but wretched Oakland A’s....in 1980 Martin may have done his greatest turnaround masterwork forwarding a 108 loss team to a 29 game improvement....Next campaign landed in ‘81 AL playoffs....Billy's detractors won over and was let go after the A's 1983 losing season.....Billy was killed in car accident about a year and half after his last game on Christmas Day 1989....those who were in his camp greatly mourned his loss.
A great Action shot would have been Martin kicking dirt on an umpire.
ReplyDeleteOr hitting the owner's wife.
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