Sports
Billy Martin
1928–1989 · baseball manager, former second baseman
Combative former Yankees star who briefly played for the Tigers in 1958 and, as their fiery manager from 1971 to 1973, led Detroit to an American League East title.
- Born
Berkeley, California- Died
Johnson City, New York
aged 61- Birth name
- Alfred Manuel Martin
- Detroit years
- 1958, 1971–1973
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Martin's brief 1958 stint as a Tigers infielder was unremarkable, but he returned to Detroit in 1971 with a bigger job: managing a team that had fallen below .500 since its 1968 championship. He promised the Tigers would win the division and made good on it in 1972, edging the Baltimore Orioles by half a game for the American League East title behind veterans like Al Kaline and Mickey Lolich, though Detroit lost a tense playoff series to Oakland. His clubhouse tirades and blunt public criticism of ownership made him as famous for controversy as for winning, but he also had a knack for finding talent: he turned pitcher John Hiller into a top closer after Hiller survived a heart attack, and discovered future All-Star outfielder Ron LeFlore while the young man was still serving time in a Michigan prison. Martin was fired during the 1973 season after another dugout blowup, one stop in a career defined by five stormy stints managing the New York Yankees.
Highlights
- Played briefly for the Tigers in 1958, traded from the Yankees
- Managed the Tigers from 1971 to 1973
- Led Detroit to the 1972 American League East title
- Discovered future All-Star Ron LeFlore in a Michigan prison
- Turned John Hiller into a successful closer after his 1971 heart attack
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1958, 1971–1973
Tiger Stadium (site), now The Corner Ballpark
Demolished · 1912–1999
Where he played briefly in 1958 and managed the Tigers to the 1972 division title; demolished in 2008–2009.