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Number 1
Written at the period of his tumultuous ride as manager of the Yankees, Billy Martin proves why he was the heart and soul of the club. It was during a time that interest in the Bronx Zoo was immense and numerous players were weighing in on the team. A book from Martin was a natural, and he tackles the issues inside the clubhouse and away from the ballpark in the candor that made him a baseball legend.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 28, 2020
Everybody who's never worked for George (Steinbrenner) liked him. It's the people who work for him that can't stand him
In the 3rd grade I borrowed this book from the library. It is an autobiography by the polarizing major leaguer and then manager Billy Martin. I don't recall much of the book except that I found a lot of strange words that seemed vaguely familiar. I went to my mother asking her how to pronounce these words and what they might mean. With the first word son**b**ch she laughed and started to explain. When I asked her about the next word, she cut off me off and asked where I was finding these words. I said it was Billy Martin's book. You know a baseball book. She smiled and said I probably shouldn't be reading that one. I didn't tell her that I had already read the whole book cover to cover. The things I took away from the book were that Billy Martin was very fond of cuss words, he wanted to win at all costs and that he had a rocky relationship with his boss George Steinbrenner. He was fired and re-hired by Steinbrenner several times.
Billy Martin had a good career as a middle infielder for the New York Yankees in the 1950's and 1960's and an even better one as a manager, winning a World Championship as the Yankees skipper in 1977. Despite their initial differences, Martin's number, #1, was retired by Steinbrenner and the Yankees in 1986 which was a huge honor. Sadly Martin died in a car crash on Christmas day in 1989, nine years after this book was first published. He was 61. There were a large number of heart felt words written by former players and colleagues about Martin when they learned of his passing.
I skimmed this book again recently as a re-read during my baseball project. I am not a huge fan of autobiographies of any genre for a number of reasons. The obvious benefit of one is that you get inside the author's head. Because Martin was so outspoken and worked most of his life in the largest media market in the world, NYC, there's not much here that you probably don't already know about him including some of the man’s fondness for profanity.
In the 3rd grade I borrowed this book from the library. It is an autobiography by the polarizing major leaguer and then manager Billy Martin. I don't recall much of the book except that I found a lot of strange words that seemed vaguely familiar. I went to my mother asking her how to pronounce these words and what they might mean. With the first word son**b**ch she laughed and started to explain. When I asked her about the next word, she cut off me off and asked where I was finding these words. I said it was Billy Martin's book. You know a baseball book. She smiled and said I probably shouldn't be reading that one. I didn't tell her that I had already read the whole book cover to cover. The things I took away from the book were that Billy Martin was very fond of cuss words, he wanted to win at all costs and that he had a rocky relationship with his boss George Steinbrenner. He was fired and re-hired by Steinbrenner several times.
Billy Martin had a good career as a middle infielder for the New York Yankees in the 1950's and 1960's and an even better one as a manager, winning a World Championship as the Yankees skipper in 1977. Despite their initial differences, Martin's number, #1, was retired by Steinbrenner and the Yankees in 1986 which was a huge honor. Sadly Martin died in a car crash on Christmas day in 1989, nine years after this book was first published. He was 61. There were a large number of heart felt words written by former players and colleagues about Martin when they learned of his passing.
I skimmed this book again recently as a re-read during my baseball project. I am not a huge fan of autobiographies of any genre for a number of reasons. The obvious benefit of one is that you get inside the author's head. Because Martin was so outspoken and worked most of his life in the largest media market in the world, NYC, there's not much here that you probably don't already know about him including some of the man’s fondness for profanity.
February 16, 2019
Eh, I didn't really learn too much from this book that I hadn't read in other books on the late 1970s New York Yankees and their often-crazy coach Billy Martin. This book was kind of hard to read at points because he gets in so many fights and bad situations and never ever blames himself. At some point I'm like, "Dude, you keep getting in all these fights, maybe because, I don't know, you're kind of an asshole with a quick temper and a drinking problem."
Look, was Martin a good manager? Yeah, he led the Yankees to a World Series title in 1977 despite an owner George Steinbrenner who actually has just as many control problems. Martin also talks about his playing days, but he seems to get in a ton of fights then too and never blame himself. To be honest, I just got sick of his shenanigans in this book by halfway through. It was cool to read about the 1976 and 1977 seasons, but honestly there are better books on that, even by this same co-author. Avoid unless you are an absolute die-hard Yankees fan. I hear there is a better biography out on Martin that just came out that is probably not as bias.
Look, was Martin a good manager? Yeah, he led the Yankees to a World Series title in 1977 despite an owner George Steinbrenner who actually has just as many control problems. Martin also talks about his playing days, but he seems to get in a ton of fights then too and never blame himself. To be honest, I just got sick of his shenanigans in this book by halfway through. It was cool to read about the 1976 and 1977 seasons, but honestly there are better books on that, even by this same co-author. Avoid unless you are an absolute die-hard Yankees fan. I hear there is a better biography out on Martin that just came out that is probably not as bias.
December 8, 2019
So my most recent baseball book reading was “Number 1” about the strange baseball life of Billy Martin (player and more notably as manager). He references dozens of fights and heated arguments with friends, strangers, writers, players, GM’s, and owners. After he retired in 1961 as a player with the Twins, he scouted and coached for them until becoming their manager in 1969. After winning 97 games and losing the ALCS, he was fired. He joined the Tigers in 1971 and led them to three straight strong finishes before being fired in 1973. After an 84 win 2nd place finish with the Rangers in 1974, Billy was fired mid-1975 after falling out of favor with the owner. Billy joined the Yankees late in 1975, lost the WS in 1976 (to the Big Red Machine), won the WS in 1977 over the Dodgers, and was fired for the first time by George Steinbrenner mid-1978. He was re-hired mid-1979 and was then fired again by George after the 1979 season. The books ends with his hiring with the Oakland A’s in 1980 where he was fired after three seasons there. There was no book appendix about his three times being hired and fired by George and the Yankees in 1983, 1985, and 1988. Bottom line: I actually really enjoyed reading this roller coaster book about Billy’s rough childhood and how he carried that into professional baseball.
December 11, 2010
Best sports/baseball book ever--sheer entertainment!
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December 1, 2012Beautifully absorbing.
August 23, 2013
One of my favorite books - I got this for Christmas when I was 15, read it that day and have read it several times since. Billy Martin will always be one of my baseball icons.
April 19, 2015
Most entertaining baseball book since Bouton's Ball Four. Billy's mother opens with a story you'll never forget.
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July 18, 2016read some time in 1983
May 28, 2020
There are some good stories in here and add a star or two if you are a Yankee fan, but ultimately it is a collection of arguments and fights that gets tedious after awhile.
May 17, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing.
July 23, 2021
Billy is pretty much full of crap. He tells how he never starts fights always makes smart decisions. He recasts himself as a perfect manager, and overestimates his abilities as a player. And everybody who opposed him was an idiot, especially Steinbrenner. He apparently had polite and respectful discussions with George. Fiction!
Some of the interesting parts are about his connection to Mickey Mantle, and stories from his playing days.
An outsider's view of Martin might be more interesting.
Some of the interesting parts are about his connection to Mickey Mantle, and stories from his playing days.
An outsider's view of Martin might be more interesting.
June 28, 2020
Engaging read about the life of Billy Martin. RIP.
May 5, 2011
May he RIP. The man was fiery. I loved watching him lead the Yankees...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews