Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 291

wrote good conduct clauses into Martin's contract, but picked the coaching staff themselves.

“The only job. The Yankee job. This is the only job I ever wanted.” — Billy Martin on being hired by the New York Yankees, 1975.

With little chance of catching the first place Red Sox, Martin spent the remainder of the 1975 season evaluating his team, cultivating the press and getting ready for 1976. At that time, Paul was operating head of the franchise. Steinbrenner had been suspended from baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn following his conviction for making illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign, but continued to make decisions, such as Martin's hiring, behind the scenes. With Martin at the helm,

the Yankees went 30–26 in their final 56 games of the 1975 season. They ended the uneventful season in third place, where they had been when he took over.

Martin worked with Paul during the off season to dispose of players such as Bobby Bonds and Doc Medich, obtaining in return Mickey Rivers, Willie Randolph and others. The 1976 Yankee season was probably his most trouble free as a major league manager. Martin endeared himself to his players quickly by effectively winning a game in Milwaukee. He pointed out that the