NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Billy Martin was fired as manager of the New York Yankees on this date after getting into a fight with a marshmellow salesman. It was the second time he got fired by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. Martin would be fired and re-fired three more times by Steinbrenner before his managerial career ended.
Martin liked to fight as a player too. He had several well-publicized altercations. There was a brawl at the Copacabana Nightclub in Manhattan involving several other Yankees. Martin was soon let go from the Yankees for being a bad influence.
He charged the mound at Wrigley Field in Chicago one day in 1960 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds. He thought Chicago Cubs pitcher Jim Brewer was throwing at him. Brewer ended up in the hospital with a broken cheekbone.
Martin also had fights with, among others, Jimmy Piersall, Tommy Lasorda, Dave Boswell, and he had to be held back from getting into a fight with his own player, Reggie Jackson.
Martin showed brilliance as a manager. In 16 seasons he won 5 division championships, 2 pennants and 1 World Series, but his erratic behavior – fueled mostly by drinking too much – didn’t keep him at the helm of any team very long.
Martin was killed on in a single-vehicle accident after leaving a bar near his home on Christmas Day 1989.
Contributing
sources:
New York Times, October 29, 1979
Billy battled opponents,
himself, by Nick Acocella, Special to ESPN.com
