Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 275

A's lost 94 games, finishing 38 games behind the Yankees. At the end of the season, Martin was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a 13 player deal, and he stated angrily; "They just can't throw us [players] around from one club to another without us having a say so."

Detroit manager Jack Tighe called Martin "the key to our future." He was expected to electrify the team as he had the Yankees. Without talent on the field and Stengel in the dugout to back him up, Martin was unable to do that, as after a decent start, the Tigers settled down to a losing season, and the

players became annoyed at Martin's ways. The Tigers had him play shortstop, but he lacked the range and the throwing arm needed to be effective, and made 20 errors for the season. He hit .255 with seven home runs, but the Tigers finished fifth, 15 games behind the Yankees. After the season, Martin and Al Cicotte were

traded to Cleveland in exchange for Don Mossi, Ray Narleski and Ossie Álvarez.

With Martin at second base, the Indians finished second in 1959, five games behind the Chicago White Sox and ahead of the third place Yankees. Despite the relatively good finish, Martin was embittered, contending that if manager Joe Gordon had used him

properly, the Indians would have won the pennant. In August, Martin, who did not wear a batting helmet, was hit on the head