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.
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,”
1958 – The Detroit Tigers trade infielder Billy Martin and starter Al Cicotte to the Cleveland Indians for relievers Ray Narleski and Don Mossi and shortstop Ossie Alvarez.
The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics execute a 13-player trade. Among the players involved are second baseman Billy Martin, outfielder Gus Zernial and pitcher Mickey McDermott, who are headed to Detroit. The Athletics acquire pitcher Duke Maas, catcher Frank House, and outfielders Bill Tuttle and Jim Small
Yogi Berra says the team returned fine money to players involved in the Copacabana fight. A group of Yankees that also included Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Bill Skowron had gathered at the New York popular night spot to celebrate Billy Martin’s 29th birthday in May when the infamous altercation occurred with a group of patrons, resulting in unwanted newspaper headlines for the storied franchise.
On June 13, 1957 At Comiskey Park the New York Yankees defeated Billy Pierce, 10-3 and the White Sox 4-3 behind a 16 hit attack. The game took an ugly turn however as the White Sox and Yankees hooked up in perhaps the greatest “base-brawl” in history. In the first inning at Comiskey Park, New…
The Yankees top Kansas City, 3 – 0, behind Bob Turley’s four-hit shutout. Mickey Mantle has a homer off Alex Kellner, the 11th time in his last 12 at-bats he’s reached base safely. That night a group of Yankees celebrate Billy Martin’s 29th birthday in raucous fashion. An ensuing fight at Manhattan’s Copacabana Club leads to $5,500 in fines and the eventual trade of Billy to Kansas City. Hank Bauer allegedly starts the fight by hitting a patron, although Bauer denies it. The Yanks fine Whitey Ford, Bauer, Yogi Berra, Mantle and Martin $1,000 each and Johnny Kucks $500.
On October 8, 1956, at Yankee Stadium With the world series tied at two games apiece, between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees Don Larsen started Game 5 for the Yankees. Larsen’s opponent in the game was Sal Maglie. The Yankees scored two runs off Maglie, as Mickey Mantle hit a home run and…
Friday, October 5, 1956, Duke Snider barrels into Billy Martin during the first inning of game 2 of the World Series at Ebbets Field. Martin turns the double play on the Jackie Robinson grounder.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!