The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, July 25, 1978-Page 15
Weary Billy quits troubled Yanks;
Bob Lemon tabbed as successor
KANSAS CITY (AP)-Billy Martin, Nixon's reelection campaign. St
weeping openly with disappointment brenner pleaded guilty to giving a fa
and grief, resigned under pressure explanation of the contribution and
yesterday as manager of the New York coercing his employes to do the sa
Yankees, ending almost three seasons He was suspended from baseball
of controversy which culminated with two years by Commissioner Bo
his blast Sunday night at team owner Kuhn after the incident, although
George Steinbrenner. sentence was later reduced to 16 m
Bob Lemon, dismissed June 29 as ths.
manager of the Chicago White Sox, was MARTIN DENIED making
named Martin's successor. remark yesterday but both Chass,
Martin announced his resignation Hecht told The Associated Press t
with a brief statement at the Crown
Center Hotel, saying: "There will be no
questions before or after or forever
because I'm a Yankee and Yankees
don't throw stones."
The move came with the Yankees,
world champions one year ago, in third
place in the American League East, 10
games behind the Boston Red Sox.
But it wasn't their spot in the stan-
dings that proved Martin's undoing. It
was a remark he reportedly made at
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
Sunday night as the team waited for its
flight to Kansas City. Martin unleashed
a tirade to newsmen against Reggie
Jackson, the $2.9 million outfielder whoY
had just rejoined the club after a five-
day- suspension occasioned by
Jackson's defying Martin's instruc-
tions.
THEN, ACCORDING to Murray
Chass of the New York Times and
Henry Hecht of the New York Post-the
only writers with Martin at the
time-the manager said: "They
(Steinbrenner and Jackson) deserve were absolutely certain he did make
each other. One's a born liar and the Steinbrenner was shocked whent
other's convicted." of Martin's statement. "It's hard
The remark referred to Steinbren- , believe he said those things," said
ner's guilty plea in 1974 concerning a Yankee owner in Tampa, Fla. "Myo
$25,000 contribution to President question is, 'Had he been drinking?'
FewYank players
sh od
ein-
alse
A of
me.
for
wie
the
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hey
Chass and Hecht said Martin was not
drunk. "He was in control," said Hecht.
Martin attempted to read a brief
statement at the hotel but was over-
come by emotion and could not finish.
He said: "I owe it to my health to
resign. I'm sorry about some things
that were printed. I did not say them. I
want to thank my coaches, the players
and the news media for everything
..." Then wracked by grief, he was led
away by Cedric Tallis, the Yankees'
'There will be no ques-
tions before or after or
forever because I'm a
Yankee and Yankees don't
throw stones.'
-an emotional
Billy Martin
when compared to a man's concern for
his own well being. These things along
with his family are far more important
than the game of baseball.
"I AM GRATEFUL to Billy for his
contributions as manager of the
Yankees. He brought us a champion-
ship. His apologies over the recent in-
cident are accepted with no further
comment necessary. I think Billy
knows of our concern for the well-being
of his family and himself. We wish him
good luck."
Team President Al Rosen, who flew
here Monday after talking with Stein-
brenner, was grim after Martin's tear-
ful farewell.
"As you can imagine, this was all a
matter of grave concern to all of us,"
said Posen. "I think it was pretty ob-
vious that Billy was very emotional
about all of this."
"Billy looks very tired, and, at times,
very haggard. We are going through a
tough season, and when your manager
gets to feeling bad, when your manager
says his doctor told him he hasa spot on
his liver and . . . This is a tougher
season for us because we're world
champions anyway."
ROSEN DESCRIBED the day's even-
ts as "a few very trying hours for us.
We wish Billy well. We also wish our-
selves well."
Martin's latest blowup was prompted
by the return of Jackson to the team
Sunday in Chicago. Jackson was
suspended for intentionally ignoring
Martin's order to swing away in the ten-
th inning ina game against Kansas City
on July 17 in New York. Jackson attem-
pted to bunt and failed, and the
Yankees eventually lost 9-7 in 11 in-
nings.
Upon his return, Jackson, who did not
play, declined to apologize, insisting the
best strategy was to bunt.
Martin, apparently incensed at what
he felt was Jackson's failure to becon-
trite, blasted his outfielder after the
game.
"If he doesn't shut his mouth, he
won't play!" Martin bellowed. "I don't
care what George says! He can replace
me right now if he doesn't like it!"
it.
told
I to
the
only
"f)
general manager.
There have been rumors that Martin
is suffering from a liver ailment but he
has denied them.
Steinbrenner, speaking from Tampa,
said the Yankees would honor the
remaining time on Martin's contract.
Martin is reportedly being paid $80,000
this season and $90,000 next.
"We have never worked better
together than we have the last two or
three weeks," Steinbrenner said of
Martin. "On learning of the Chicago
thing I was shocked. You could have
knocked me over.
"The events that have transpired in
the last hours have little significance
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)-The
New York Yankees, struggling
through another stormy season,
reacted with emotions ranging from
shock to indifference yesterday upon
learning that Manager Billy Martin
had resigned.
"It's a complete shock," said
utilityman Paul Blair. "I don't like
to see him going out this way. But I
guess-under the circumstances ...
I just hate to see it."
"BILLY WAS TAKING care of all
our problems and maybe it just wore
him out," said center fielder Mickey
Rivers, who said Martin had been
"over-fair with me. I don't think it
should have happened."
Others felt it was bound to happen.
"Just a matter of time," said first
baseman Jim Spencer, who had
been used sparingly this season.
"That's all. Otherwise, I'm indif-
ferent at this time."
YANKEE BROADCASTER Phil
Rizzuto was anything but indiffer-
ent. A teffibste of Martin's during
the era when Casey Stengell
had dropped out when I watched
Billy make the statement and then
break dow."
"I really was afraid he was going
to have a heart attack. It probably
was the worst news I've heard in
baseball, except for in 1956 when the
Yankees told me I had been
released."
IT WAS NEITHER bad news nor
good news to slugger Reggie
Jackson, who returned Sunday from
a five-day suspension imposed by
Martin last week.
"I don't have a reaction," said
Jackson, repeating it once for each
of the three newsmen clustered at
his locker. "Nothing surprises me. I
think it's unfortunate. That's all I've
got to say."
That was a great deal.more than
most of his teammates would volun-
teer.
Pitchers Ed Figueroa, Sparky
Lyle, Dick Tidrow and Catfish Hun-
ter, outfielder Roy White and shor-
tstop Fred Stanley would not com-
ment on the resignation, nor would
coach Elston Howard or rookie cat-
LA .t
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