New York Yankees Manager Billy Martin: Civil War Expert

Harold FriendMay 31, 2011

Shortly before his untimely death on Christmas day 1989, Billy Martin had met videographer Tom Molito to discuss making a video detailing Martin's managerial strategies.

Billy was dressed in his usual cowboy outfit, which might have been incongruous for anyone at a business meeting in New York City, but for Billy, it seemed perfectly natural.

Tom and Billy agreed that the video would emphasize his New York Yankees years as well as the strike-shortened 1981 season when Martin led the Oakland A's to a division title.

As Billy gulped his drink, the topic switched from managing baseball games to managing the Union Forces at Gettysburg. Billy really was a student of the Civil War and he became quite animated discussing the Confederacy's tactical errors that cost them victory.

To Billy, nothing was worse than a victory lost.

He argued that the Confederacy should have isolated and captured Washington D.C., followed by the destruction of the North's industries and railroads. Martin quoted British Colonel G.F.R. Henderson, who made those points in 1898.

Tom, who considered himself quite knowledgeable about the Civil War, was duly impressed with Martin's expertise. He told Billy that he now understood Billy Martin the manager much better.

Martin's baseball managing took an equally aggressive approach as his managing of the Civil War.

When Martin was skipper of the Detroit Tigers during the 1972 playoffs, Tigers pitcher Lerrin LeGrew hit Oakland A's shortstop Bert Campaneris with an inside pitch. Campaneris threw his bat at the big right-hander, who took umbrage at the act of aggression.

Of course, there was a major brawl in which Martin had to be restrained by his team and the umpires from going after Campaneris.

Martin believed strongly in never allowing himself to be intimidated, but one his strengths was intimidating the opposition. For him, the Confederacy taking over Washington was analogous to beating his opponent in the World Series, using whatever means possible, and did he ever use any means possible.

Martin stole signs, used the squeeze play, embarrassed his players when necessary (see Reggie Jackson) and told his pitchers to throw at opposing hitters.

He was fired by the Tigers in August of 1973 for telling his pitchers to throw at hitters. His mistake was that he told what he wanted his pitchers to do to the media.

Martin's reputation as a brawler is well documented. His hatred for former Yankees catcher Clint Courtney and the latter's loathing of Martin has become legendary.

In 1952, Courtney was with the St. Louis Browns, who were playing the Yankees. The catcher spiked Martin in the second inning of a game at Sportsman's Park. Martin got revenge.

In the eighth inning, Courtney was on first with two outs. He attempted to steal second, which was not a wise move.

Courtney was out by a mile, but to be certain, Martin tagged him extremely hard right in his face. Courtney followed Martin after the play was over, but Martin turned around and smashed Courtney in the face.

After being fascinated by Martin's Civil War strategies, Molito told him that he would send a script for Martin's approval. A few months later, Billy was involved in the accident that took his life.

Shortly after Martin's death, Molito released the video, Billy Martin: the Man, the Myth, and the Manager. It was a huge success, but Molito has always regretted that Martin never got to see it.