George Steinbrenner vs. Billy Martin

[hudsonharden]

I don't know a whole lot about the ongoing feud between Steinbrenner and Billy Martin. I've seen short newsclips of the two yelling at one another at a press conference on Sportscenter and the like. What was that all about? Can someone who was alive at the time explain to me what the conflict was about?

[Bench 5]

Hudson - I am not sure what clip they are showing on ESPN but I have been posting a lot of articles about the Yankees of that era on the Reggie Jackson Thread. There are a few articles on that thread from 1977 that give some good background about the personality conflicts from the time: Billy vs Reggie, Billy vs. George, Reggie vs. Munson etc.

I am going to post some more articles regarding the 1978 season so that will highlight some of the fireworks from that season - when Billy got canned.

[iPod]

The "And if you don't like it, you're fired!" clip (if that's what you're talking about) was, as I understand it, meant to be a joke. Steinbrenner was announcing to the press he had hired Martin to manage the Yankees for the 1983 season, but he had hired and fired Martin twice already. Martin got fired a third time at the end of 1983, although the Yankees won 91 games that year.

[Mattingly]

I remember from seeing something on ESPN Classic that Steinbrenner took advantage of Martin's drinking problem. He'd pretty much badgered him and Martin wasn't of the personality nor in a position to fight back. Martin was fired 4 times and quit the final time.

He'd invented in Oakland what was known as "Billy Ball", which was a predecessor to Sweet Lou Piniella's running game. In one famous incident in Oakland, a really big Mo Vaughn type of guy was on the bases (running) at 1B. That guy bluffed a steal of 2B. Seeing this, the pitcher's eyes glazed and threw to get the easy out. However, Rickey Henderson was at 3B and he waltzed home in the rundown.

Steinbrenner wanted a winner and Billy represented this. He also seemed to be a faulty manager who could seemingly be controlled by him, especially in the press. George *ADORES* the "back pages" (sports headline) of the NY Daily News & NY Post.

Perhaps someone in the Arts section (books) can provide some books or other material detailing them together. I just remember that Big Stein wasn't at his finest hour during that turbulent period.

I remember that Billy Martin was irked that Reggie Jackson was acquired, him coincidentally being the 2nd of many big-name FAs (Catfish was the first) that the Yanks acquired, and Martin wasn't enthused with Reggie.

After Reggie supposedly embarrased Martin when Martin called for a bunt, then took off the bunt sign, Reggie decided to bunt anyway. Heck, even Mantle had bunted, but Martin thought he was being shown up by his star and I believe Reggie was benched. In another time against the Red Sox, Reggie played lackadaisically and allowed an easy out to RF to become a double, allowing the game to be won by Boston. I think that Martin again benched Reggie.

Steinbrenner, since he'd prized his big name FA players, got on Martin's case, and that was just one of the things happening back then. Also involved prominently were Thurman Munson and Graig Nettles. Perhaps that book "Bronx Zoo" could help offer details.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Steinbrenner knew Billy was good for a while, but he ALWAYS ended up alienating his players. The players more or less liked Billy, but he would get a few permanently ticked off at him to the point where George would intervene, Billy would lash back at George, and George would have to do something. The players KNEW George would eventually fire Billy, for a while, so it made him easier to take.

[Eastvanmungo]

Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner in a Miller Lite Commercial

[iPod]

That's interesting. I sort of remember at one time hearing Steinbrenner and Martin had done a Miller Lite commercial but I didn't know that was the origin of "Great Taste" vs "Less Filling".