Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 288

Martin faced a receptive clubhouse. Most of the players had grown up watching him as a Yankee on television.

Over the winter of 1973–1974, Martin made several trades, bringing Ferguson Jenkins from the Cubs in exchange for Bill Madlock. Jenkins and Jim Bibby would anchor the pitching staff. He promoted Jim Sundberg and Mike Hargrove to the Rangers from the lower minor leagues. Short sold the team to Brad Corbett just before the 1974 season began. The new owner retained Martin as manager, but did not allow him control of the roster.

The Rangers opened at Arlington Stadium against the two time defending world champion A's. Martin billed the series as the meeting of the top two AL West teams though Las Vegas put the Rangers at 50–1 to win the division. The A's won two of three,

but all the games were close. After winning a series at Oakland at the end of April marked by aggressive base running, the Rangers were in first place. Martin taught the Rangers to improve their play and to beware his rage. Outfielder Tom Grieve later stated that he made the team afraid to lose.

The Rangers stayed close to the division lead through May and June, though they dropped to fourth place and eight games back at the All Star break. The Rangers kept the race close until late September, and finished second, five games back, their