Billy Martin

When he died in a truck accident in 1989, his surviving fellow passenger, Bill Reedy, claimed that Martin had been behind the wheel when the truck plunged into a ditch. The autopsy, however, revealed that Martin's impact injuries were all on the right side, and the hairs found on the right side of the truck's shattered windshield were Martin's. The coroner concluded that Reedy, not Martin, was the real driver of the truck.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 605-607. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.

Resigned as Yankee manager during mid-season in 1978, then a few days later signed a new contract effective in 1980. Was brought back as Yankee manager in 1979, then fired after the season had ended for punching out a marshmallow salesman in a bar.

Hired as New York Yankees' manager in July of 1975, replacing Bill Virdon. Fired mid-way through the 1978 season and replaced by Bob Lemon. Re-hired for the 1980 season. Brought back midway through the 1979 season, then fired after that season and replaced by Dick Howser. Managed the Oakland A's from 1980 to 1982. Re-hired by the Yankees in 1983, then fired after that season and replaced by Yogi Berra. Re-hired by the Yankees seven games into the 1985 season, then fired and replaced by Lou Piniella. Re-hired by the Yankees before the 1988 season and fired for the last time before his death.

His playing career ended in 1961, but his involvement in baseball was far from over. He went on to manage in Detroit, Texas, Oakland, and most notably, in New York. Martin was hired and fired five times during his career as the skipper for the Bronx Bombers.

Was traded by the Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics in 1957 after an incident at the Copacabana Club.

Billy Martin will always be remembered for his fiery personality, both on and off the field. Cleveland General Manager Frank Lane once said, "He's the kind of guy you'd like to kill if he's playing on the other team, but you'd like 10 of him on your side. " Martin won the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1953 World Series, batting. 500, with 12 hits, 2 home runs, and a series-leading 8 RBIs.

Played for the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League, in 1948 and 1949. After Casey Stengel, manager of the Oaks in 1948, was appointed New York Yankees manager for the 1949 season, he had the franchise acquire Martin as Stengel had admired his aggressive play. Martin debuted with the Yankees in 1950, and played for five World Series winners before being traded away in 1957 due to his deleterious influence on Yankees superstar Mickey Mantle, with whom he partied.