Billy Martin

March 23, 2015
In this definitive biography, New York Times columnist Pennington (The Heisman) portrays former New York Yankees manager Billy Martin as a baseball man of superior knowledge, albeit one who battled demons his entire life. Martin was killed in a traffic accident on Christmas Day, 1989âa sad ending for a 61-year-old California native who spent 12 seasons playing second base for seven Major League Baseball teams. From 1969 to 1988, he also managed five pro teams. Remembered for his tenacity on the field, Martin also liked to kick dirt on umpires' shoes and run trick plays. But he became even more famous off the field for his fiery temper, blatant philandering, and massive alcohol consumption. Numerous books about Martin already exist, including two by the man himself. But Pennington, a Yankees beat writer in the 1980s who witnessed several of the incidents recounted here in animated detail, was able to accomplish something that no other author has: he interviewed all four of Martin's wives. A motley cast of baseball Hall of Famers, including Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, Rod Carew, Ricky Henderson, Reggie Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, and Earl Weaver, make appearances in this must-read for fans of the great American pastime.

March 15, 2015

There's a famous video of Hall of Famer George Brett charging angrily out of the dugout after his two-run home run was invalidated by the umpire. Known to baseball fans as the "Pine Tar Incident," it occurred owing to the eagle-eyed observation of Billy Martin, the legendary manager and player whose attention to detail on the field was unparalleled. Despite this, Martin is more remembered for his cantankerous personality and his short fuse--that, and for being fired by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner multiple times. Reconciling the two sides of Martin--the brilliant baseball mind and the irascible loudmouth--is no easy task, but New York Times sportswriter Pennington (On Par; The Heisman) is more than capable of doing so. His study of Martin is comprehensive and detailed, offering the reader rich details on his early years and his time as a player for several teams, most notably the Yankees. Most of the book's focus, however, is on Martin's service as a manager, and in particular his experience at the Yankees' helm. Pennington expertly combines material from his subject's personal and professional life, leaving the impression of a complicated and flawed but unforgettable man. VERDICT Baseball fans of all ages will thoroughly enjoy this lengthy but well-paced biography.--Brett Rohlwing, Milwaukee P.L.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.