Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin have dugout confrontation On June 18, 1977, At Fenway Park “I am the straw that stirs the drink,” Reggie Jackson announced after signing with the Yankees in 1977. “Munson thinks he can be the straw that stirs the drink, but he can only stir it bad.” Never mind that the Yankees…
Believing that Chicago’s Jim Brewer is throwing at him, Reds 2B Billy Martin throws his bat toward the mound. Then, he advances to retrieve it from Brewer, who has picked it up. The two exchange words and Martin launches a hard overhand right that fractures the orbital bone of Brewer’s right eye. Both benches empty and Martin continues swinging, decking Frank Thomas. Brewer requires surgery and will be out of action for a month. The Cubs win, 5 – 3, on Ernie Banks’ homer. Martin will be fined $500 for the punch and Brewer and the Cubs will sue the combative infielder on August 22 for $1,000,000. Years later, when the courts award Brewer $100,000, Martin’s comment will be, “How can they ever collect it? I haven’t got that kind of money,”
Billy Martin, an All-Star infielder and former manager of the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics, dies in a car accident in Johnson City, NY, at the age of 61. Martin, a five-time Yankees manager under owner George Steinbrenner, was rumored to be a candidate to replace current Yankees skipper Lou Piniella. During an 18-year managerial career, Martin posted a record of 1253-1013, led his teams to five American League pennants and guided the Yankees to the 1977 World Championship. He will be buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Westchester, NY, in a plot near Babe Ruth. Steinbrenner, who fired Martin four times (he resigned the fifth time) purchases the plot.
Second basemen Billy Martin and Jackie Robinson squared off in four World Series (1952-53; 1955-56), with each man enjoying his share of memorable highlights in the field, on the bases, and at the dish during October. True to character, the fiery Martin viewed these match-ups with the National League’s top second sacker as deadly serious….
Reggie Jackson Position: RightfielderBats: Left • Throws: Left6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)Born: May 18, 1946 in Abington, PADraft: Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1st round (2nd) of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ).High School: Cheltenham HS (Cheltenham, PA)School: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)Debut: June 9, 1967 (10,199th in MLB history)vs. CLE 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: October 4,…
Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle celebrate Billy Martin’s return from the army; Ford throws 6 innings of no-hit ball against Washington before Carlos Paula spoils it in the 7th with Washington’s only hit. The Yanks win, 4 – 2, as Mantle hits his 36th home run, a 3-run shot. Mantle is 10 homers ahead of rivals Al Kaline and Ted Williams. New York stays a half-game behind the White Sox, who beat the 3rd-place Indians. Billy Martin will hit .300 in September, and New York will go on a 17-6 tear to win the pennant by 3 games.
Paul Blair Position: Centerfielder Bats: Right • Throws: Right 6-0, 168lb (183cm, 76kg) Born: February 1, 1944 in Cushing, OK Died: December 26, 2013 (Aged 69-328d) in Baltimore, MD Buried: Cremated High School: Manual Arts HS (Los Angeles, CA) Debut: September 9, 1964 (Age 20-221d, 9,898th in MLB history) vs. WSA 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Last Game: June 20, 1980 (Age 36-140d) vs. OAK 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Nicknames: Motormouth…
Dec. 18, 1959 Gabe Paul smiles as well traveled ballplayer Billy Martin signs his 1960 contract to play for the Reds. Cincinnati Reds; manager Fred Hutchinson hoped Martin could instill some fight into his team. Although he could not make the Reds a winner with his diminished skills, he still was a battler…
1960 – For Billy Martin’s fight on August 5, Jim Brewer and the Cubs hit back with a $1,040,000 law suit. The claim will be settled in court and Martin will be liable for $25,000 in damages.
Jimmy Piersall and New York’s Billy Martin first exchange insults before a game in Boston‚ then exchange punches in the tunnel under the stands. It takes coaches Bill Dickey and Oscar Melillo‚ along with starter Ellis Kinder‚ to break up the fight. Piersall goes to the clubhouse to change his bloody shirt and gets into another brawl with teammate Mickey McDermott. He sits as Ellis Kinder stops the Yanks‚ 5 – 2.