Billy Martin
Born: 5/16/1928 in Berkeley, CA, USA
Died: 12/25/1989 in Johnson City, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-04-18 | Final Game: 1961-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Alfred Manuel Martin
Biography
Billy Martin, born in 1928, was a notable position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1950 to 1961. Known for his fiery personality and competitive spirit, Martin played in 1,021 games, amassing 877 hits, 64 home runs, and 333 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .257. His performance on the field was characterized by a combination of aggressive base running and a keen eye for hitting, reflected in his 34 stolen bases throughout his career. Martin's contributions did not go unnoticed, as he earned an All-Star selection during his time in the league.
Emerging during the post-World War II era when baseball was transitioning into a new phase of popularity, Martin's style of play and intense demeanor resonated with fans and teammates alike. He was part of a generation of players that helped shape the modern game, balancing power and speed while playing in an era that was beginning to see a shift towards more dynamic offensive strategies. After retiring from playing, Martin became a well-known manager, further solidifying his legacy in baseball history. His impact on the game, both as a player and as a manager, continues to be remembered by baseball enthusiasts.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1021 | 3419 | 425 | 877 | 137 | 28 | 64 | 333 | 34 | 188 | 355 | 0.257 | 0.300 | 0.369 | 0.669 | -5233.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | NYY | AL | 34 | 36 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | NYY | AL | 51 | 58 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0.259 | -71.8 |
| 1952 | NYY | AL | 109 | 363 | 32 | 97 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 3 | 22 | 31 | 0.267 | -283.4 |
| 1953 | NYY | AL | 149 | 587 | 72 | 151 | 24 | 6 | 15 | 75 | 6 | 43 | 56 | 0.257 | -497.3 |
| 1955 | NYY | AL | 20 | 70 | 8 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 0.300 | 1.4 |
| 1956 | NYY | AL | 121 | 458 | 76 | 121 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 7 | 30 | 56 | 0.264 | -398.8 |
| 1957 | KC1 | AL | 73 | 265 | 33 | 68 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 27 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 0.257 | -101.1 |
| 1957 | NYY | AL | 43 | 145 | 12 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 0.241 | -101.1 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 131 | 498 | 56 | 127 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 42 | 5 | 16 | 62 | 0.255 | -1505.6 |
| 1959 | CLE | AL | 73 | 242 | 37 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 0.260 | -208.9 |
| 1960 | CIN | NL | 103 | 317 | 34 | 78 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 27 | 34 | 0.246 | -607.8 |
| 1961 | MIN | AL | 108 | 374 | 44 | 92 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 3 | 13 | 42 | 0.246 | -1033.0 |
| 1961 | ATL | NL | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | -1033.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 99 | 15 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 5 | 15 | 0.333 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | WS | NYA | 7 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0.296 |
| 1955 | WS | NYA | 7 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.320 |
| 1953 | WS | NYA | 6 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0.500 |
| 1952 | WS | NYA | 7 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0.217 |
| 1951 | WS | NYA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 767 | 435 | 1734 | 1840 | 74 | 532 |
| 3B | 97 | 82 | 104 | 143 | 13 | 14 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 118 | 92 | 184 | 269 | 22 | 67 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | NYA | 2B | 22 | 0 | 24 | 16 | 1 | 5 |
| 1950 | NYA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | NYA | 2B | 23 | 0 | 36 | 49 | 1 | 15 |
| 1951 | NYA | 3B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | NYA | SS | 6 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 1951 | NYA | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | NYA | 2B | 107 | 0 | 244 | 323 | 9 | 92 |
| 1953 | NYA | 2B | 146 | 0 | 376 | 390 | 12 | 121 |
| 1953 | NYA | SS | 18 | 0 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 1955 | NYA | 2B | 17 | 17 | 42 | 44 | 2 | 19 |
| 1955 | NYA | SS | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | NYA | 2B | 105 | 101 | 241 | 260 | 10 | 84 |
| 1956 | NYA | 3B | 16 | 11 | 12 | 28 | 5 | 3 |
| 1957 | KC1 | 2B | 52 | 48 | 121 | 111 | 3 | 28 |
| 1957 | KC1 | 3B | 20 | 19 | 29 | 24 | 2 | 4 |
| 1957 | KC1 | SS | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | NYA | 2B | 26 | 25 | 58 | 67 | 7 | 18 |
| 1957 | NYA | 3B | 13 | 12 | 11 | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 1958 | DET | 3B | 41 | 39 | 47 | 59 | 3 | 5 |
| 1958 | DET | SS | 88 | 88 | 159 | 229 | 17 | 58 |
| 1959 | CLE | 2B | 67 | 65 | 147 | 149 | 1 | 37 |
| 1959 | CLE | 3B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | CIN | 2B | 97 | 88 | 228 | 207 | 11 | 52 |
| 1961 | MIN | 2B | 105 | 91 | 217 | 224 | 17 | 61 |
| 1961 | MIN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 767 |
| Third Base | 97 |
| Shortstop | 119 |
| Center Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Babe Ruth Award | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |