STEINBRENNER, MARTIN MADE HISTORY 21 YEARS AGO TODAY

It was June 23, 1988 when one of the most telling episodes occurred in the history of the Bronx Zoo, also known as the NY Yankees during the 70's, 80's & 90's, under owner George Steinbrenner's rule. I stumbled across an archive photo and story from the Sports Illustrated July 4, 1988 edition while browsing their website www.si.com.

The story was authored by one of baseball's premier journalists, Peter Gammons, well-before his career blossomed throughout sports TV via ESPN. I have copied the most important 80% of the story here for your reading enjoyment.

This day in baseball history saw the Yankees fire manager Billy Martin for the FIFTH TIME. That's not a typo. The Boss (Steinbrenner) hired and fired the same manager in the person of Billy Martin FIVE TIMES. For Yankee fans out there who know their Pinstripe folklore, this particular year the Bronx Bombers every day lineup featured Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Ricky Henderson, Dave Winfield and Mike Pagilarulo. Arming the mound was an aging Ron Guidry, an aged Tommy John, terrific lefty Dave Righetti, and the Candy Man, John Candelaria. At the time of Billy's fifth dismissal the Yankees had just fallen out of first place. Over the course of the next 90+ games they slipped to fifth place out of seven in the old AL East.

As a loyal Yankee fan and baseball aficionado, I am still amazed to this day. It goes to show that time can cloud memory. How in the world could I not have readily recalled how many times Billy Martin skippered the Yanks. That, my friends, is an historical feat that will never be challenged by any other sports franchise. I guess we have to take that along with the 26 World Series titles. By the way, when is that 27th coming? I am trying to be patient.

July 4, 1988 Sports Illustrated

by Peter Gammons

Billy V Turned into what Animal House V would probably be like. Billy I and Billy II worked. They were funny. Even Billy III got two stars. By Billy V, it was neither funny nor meaningful. Who wanted to watch an ashen, trembling man get thrown out of a Texas topless bar or toss dirt at an umpire? "I find this boring by now," says Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry, who has seen Billy I-V and survived 14 Yankee managerial changes since 1975, of which last week's sacking of Billy Martin—he was replaced by Lou Piniella, who had also preceded him—was only the latest.

Contrast the New York Mets and the Yankees: The Mets don't have people laughing at them. They finished second in 1987 and acquired 10 young players to restock their farm system. The Yankees finished fourth, rehired Martin and added some $4 million to their payroll. Davey Johnson is in his fifth season as the Mets' manager. In that time the Yankees have had Yogi Berra II, Billy IV, Lou Piniella I, Billy V and Lou II. Oh, yes. Billy I lasted 471 games; Billy II, III, IV and V a total of 471.

George Steinbrenner never has figured out that a baseball season is not a high-speed car chase. He also hasn't learned that making headlines doesn't get a team to the World Series. So his wild, emotional swerves continue, with 15 managerial and 22 pitching-coach changes since he became the team's owner in 1973. Steinbrenner was cunning in his most recent ousting of Martin, using his latest office boy (also known, in the Yankee scheme of things, as the general manager), Bob Quinn, to carry out his orders and take Martin's heat.

Despite a rash of injuries and a recent 2-7 road trip culminating in a three-game sweep by Detroit that knocked the Yankees out of first place, Martin's team was still in the race. However, Steinbrenner felt that the pitching staff was being blown out and that, with 94 games left, Piniella would have enough time to save a very talented team.