October 7th, 1988: Lou Piniella Fired As Yankees Manager for the 2nd Time

October 7th, 1988

Okay, so there’s some debate whether Lou Piniella was “fired” during his first go-around as the Yankees skipper.  Nevertheless, lets recap the absurdity.

After retiring in the Yankees organization as a player, Lou Piniella was appointed to become the team’s manager in 1986 – replacing Billy Martin.  After a 4th place finish in ‘87, Piniella was “promoted” (um, right) to GM by a disappointed Steinbrenner and replaced by Billy Martin.  Martin was subsequently fired, for the fifth time, midway through the 1988 season and Piniella once again took over.

That is, until the end of the season…when he was replaced by Dallas Green (who was dismissed 121 games in ‘89), 21 years ago today.

It was the end of Piniella’s managing career in New York.  Likewise for Billy Martin.

Piniella and Martin aren’t the only Yankees managers to be replacesd/rehired by the organization.  The list also includes Ralph Hauk, Dick Howser, Bob Lemon, Yogi Berra, and Gene Michael.  Whew.

Impress your co-workers: The Billy Martin hiring/firing/rehiring is probably the most notable (read: to me) because it – like many other athlete references – was used as a punchline in the 7th Season of “Seinfeld“.

STEINBRENNER: You know as painful as it is…I had to let a few people go over the years. Yogi Berra, Lou Pinella, Bucky Dent, Billy Martin, Dallas Green, Dick Houser, Bill Virdon, Billy Martin, Scott Marrow, Billy Martin, Bob Lemmon, Billy Martin…

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