Biography:Martin was a controversial Major League Baseball infielder and manager whose success was most famously linked with the New York Yankees, whom he managed for 5 stints.
He won 5 World Series with the Yankees, 4 as a scrappy second baseman in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956 and once as manager in 1977. Apart from the Yankees, Martin played for 6 other clubs and managed 5 others.
He had a history of being an excellent builder of teams but also one of conflict with ownership, star players, young pitchers as well as poor and erratic personal behaviour away from the baseball field.
Born:May 16, 1928 Birthplace:Berekeley, California, USA
1951-11-13 Lefty O'Doul's all-stars, including Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin, lose 3-1 to Pacific League all-star team (Japan)
1953-10-04 50th Baseball World Series: NY Yankees beat Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3 at Yankee Stadium for 4-2 series win; Yankees record 5th consecutive WS; MVP: NY 2B Billy Martin
1957-06-15 Yanks trade Billy Martin & Ralph Terry for Ryne Duran
1968-10-11 MLB star Billy Martin named manager of the Minnesota Twins
1969-10-13 Billy Martin (97-65) is fired as manager of AL West-winning Twins
1969-12-13 MLB manager Billy Martin fired by the Minnesota Twins
1970-10-02 Detroit general manager Jim Campbell gives controversial Billy Martin a 2-year deal (1971-72) to manage the Tigers at a well above MLB average annual salary of $65,000
1973-09-02 Billy Martin is fired as Detroit Tigers manager due to continual differences with the front office; goes on to manage Texas, Oakland and NY Yankees (in 5 separate stints)
1973-09-08 Billy Martin named manager of the Texas Rangers
1974-07-14 Billy Martin is 1st AL manager ejected by umpire from 2 games in 1 day
1974-10-24 Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (Texas Rangers)
1975-07-21 Billy Martin fired as Texas Rangers manager
1976-10-28 Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (NY Yankees)
1977-04-21 Billy Martin pulls Yankee line-up out of a hat, beats Blue Jays 8-6
1978-07-17 NY Yankee manager Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson fight in dug out after Jackson refuses to bunt, causing Martin to suspend him
1978-07-24 Billy Martin resigns as Yankee manager after "one is a born liar the other a convicted one" comment about Steinbrenner and Jackson
1978-07-25 Robert Granville "Bob" Lemon replaces Billy Martin as Yankee manager
1978-07-29 On Old Timer's Day, NY Yankees announce that Billy Martin will return as NY Yankee manager in 1980 and Bob Lemon will become GM
1979-02-22 Billy Martin named manager of Oakland A's
1979-05-24 Billy Martin issues a public apology to Reno sportswriter Ray Hagar
1979-06-18 Billy Martin becomes Yankee manager (2nd time), replacing Bob Lemon
1979-06-19 In NYC 36,211 show up to witness return of Billy Martin as manager of the New York Yankees
1979-10-24 Billy Martin punches a marshmallow salesman, puts job in jeopardy
1979-10-28 Dick Howser (best Yank manager win-lost pct .636) returns to New York, replacing Billy Martin
1979-10-29 Billy Martin fired as Yankee manager (2nd time)
1980-04-25 Oakland Athletics' manager Billy Martin is restrained by umpires from attacking a fan
1981-11-12 Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (Oakland A's)
1982-07-08 Billy Martin records his 1,000th career win as a manager
1982-10-20 Billy Martin fired as manager of Oakland A's
1983-01-11 Billy Martin named NY Yankee manager for 3rd time
1985-04-28 Billy Martin named NY Yankee manager for 4th time
1985-04-29 New York Yankees fire manager Yogi Berra 16 games into season, despite assurance from owner George Steinbrenner that he would be kept for the whole season. Billy Martin named as replacement.
1985-09-22 Billy Martin's right arm is broken by pitcher Ed Whitson
1985-10-27 Billy Martin is fired by Yankees for 4th time
1986-08-10 Billy Martin Day, his uniform number 1 retired
1987-10-19 Woody Woodward resigns as NY Yankee GM, Lou Piniella is named GM and Billy Martin is named NY Yankee manager for 5th & final time
1988-06-23 Yanks manager Billy Martin's 5th term ends, Lou Pinella named manager
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