That is a wonderful series. I was a little kid in 1977 but I remember the feel of the year and that series brings back the feel of that time better than any modern thing that I've ever seen.
I'm a brother from Boston. I've been way lot of Jackson documentaries lately. Jackson was obviously narcissistic. Both Martin and Jackson were a bit insecure because of the rejection early in life.
He should be in the HOF. More Yankee bias. Joe D, Yogi, Whitey, Scooter ALL were not elected on the first ballot!! How do you retire Jackie’s number and not the Babes?!! A plethora of Yankee bias!!!!
You sound stupid. A lot of great players were not elected on the first ballot: Speaker, Hornsby, Foxx, Greenberg, Killebrew, Grover Cleveland, Mel Ott, Eddie Collins, Eddie Mathews, Gaylord Perry, Rollie Fingers.........Obviously, Jackie Robinson's number was retired not because he was a better baseball player than Ruth......Robinson was obviously a better football player than a baseball player.
Martin was a baseball managerial genius but he had his demons. I knew who he was when I was 11. After watching this documentary it certainly makes you think.
Billy's a cautionary tale, for sure. But when he was good, he was great. Everywhere he went, he won. I would say that whichever team he was getting ready to manage was instantly better the moment he walked into the clubhouse.
Billy had lots of issues, but the man was a brilliant manager. One of the smartest people to ever manage the game of baseball. It makes me sad how he died. I still remember hearing the news and my grandfather heard it at the same time while visiting during Christmas. He loved Billy. We'll never know, but we can only guess how better Billy might have been as a manager or a person if he stopped drinking. I truly believe that had he gotten help he would have been a happier person and an even better manager.
I always criticized pro baseball as being ''boreball'. One night in 1977 , I put the TV on & saw the NYYs on the attack. ''THIS AIN'T BOREBALL''!!!! I faithfully watched the explosive NYYs every night for the rest of the season.
No one remembers George Weiss' name worth a drop of nasty sweat. But millions of fans will always remember the name of Billy ''Ball'' Martin forever. Fans in NY, Twin Cities, Texas, Oakland, & Detroit will always remember Billy's winning ways. I'm not much of a C&W fan, but I love that song, ''The Turnaround Gang''. I always respected Billy for his ''hustle'' and clutch WS plays. I remember that many kids on the NYC playgrounds wanted to be Billy Martin. I faithfully watched the 1977 NYY and the ensuing WS. I wasn't surprised that the Yanks beat the Dodgers. It was nothing new. In 1980, I was in San Jose ,Calif. I enjoyed watching ''Billy Ball '' from Oakland .
The hunting story is not true. Many people have told variations of it, almost always in public at speaking events. Danny White of the Dallas Cowboys tells the same story about a teammate of his. .... Total fabrication, a spin on a joke told by a comedian.
He was alright when he was sober but when he drank, look out. Alcohol brought out the demons. And his mother didn’t help. She seems like very mean woman. No wonder his father left.
Billy was my manager for one MLB Spring exhibition game in Phoenix, 1982. He and Art Fowler said nothing to me or anybody. Both nodded off, hung over after a night at the Pink Pony. True story.
To hell with 'Moneyball.' A 'Billy Ball' mini-series would be a worthwhile experience for baseball fans. It's too bad Billy never wrote a baseball strategy book like McCarver did. Billy's would have been awesome. Best baseball mind ever.
Took decades to even ponder this. But had Martin lived to manage the Yankees in the early 90s they never would’ve had their run from 1994-04. Joe Torre would’ve most likely stayed in the NL, the core four wouldn’t have been drafted, ect, ect.
That’s not really clear. Steinbrenner still would have been suspended so they still would have drafted and kept the young stars (I don’t like the term “core four” as it leaves out Bernie who was much more integral to their dynasty than Posada). The difference is that it is probably Billy that follows Bucky Dent in 1990-91 instead of Stump Merrill. Knowing Billy there’s a good chance he is out after ‘91, win or lose, and so Buck Showalter probably still takes over in ‘92. The real question becomes whether George goes back to Billy a 7th time after Buck runs his course, or goes for a total outsider like he did with Torre.
@@movieman9100 you mean like punching out marshmallow salesman and boozing. I think if you think about how Martin died...that explains his chaos. Reggie had an ego...but he was educated and intelligent. His ego got him in trouble...but he backed it up. In 1977 all was forgiven w Munson.
I love that John Turturo narrated this documentary. He was phenomenal as Billy Martin in the Bronx is Burning
His portrayal made me look deep into his career and those 1970s Yankee teams.
I agree regarding John! As far as playing Billy, he got it down to a science!
That is a wonderful series. I was a little kid in 1977 but I remember the feel of the year and that series brings back the feel of that time better than any modern thing that I've ever seen.
Turturo’s brother is a Yankee superfan. MLBN once did a documentary following him through the entire 2009 season
To much alcohole
Billy was the best on field game manager I have ever seen
he was a fighter
should be in hof as a player & manager despite the drama.
definitely a genius of the game.
Billy Martin was a baseball genius!
One of my favorite mlb network presents
Same.
It’s a great one.
What a weasel Reggie Jackson was / is
I'm a brother from Boston. I've been way lot of Jackson documentaries lately. Jackson was obviously narcissistic. Both Martin and Jackson were a bit insecure because of the rejection early in life.
He should be in the HOF. More Yankee bias. Joe D, Yogi, Whitey, Scooter ALL were not elected on the first ballot!! How do you retire Jackie’s number and not the Babes?!! A plethora of Yankee bias!!!!
You sound stupid. A lot of great players were not elected on the first ballot: Speaker, Hornsby, Foxx, Greenberg, Killebrew, Grover Cleveland, Mel Ott, Eddie Collins, Eddie Mathews, Gaylord Perry, Rollie Fingers.........Obviously, Jackie Robinson's number was retired not because he was a better baseball player than Ruth......Robinson was obviously a better football player than a baseball player.
Martin was a baseball managerial genius but he had his demons. I knew who he was when I was 11. After watching this documentary it certainly makes you think.
Billy's a cautionary tale, for sure. But when he was good, he was great. Everywhere he went, he won. I would say that whichever team he was getting ready to manage was instantly better the moment he walked into the clubhouse.
I cannot stand Reggie Jackson.
Reggie was the man
Baseball could use a Billy Martin, it’s run like a corporation today.
Billy had lots of issues, but the man was a brilliant manager. One of the smartest people to ever manage the game of baseball. It makes me sad how he died. I still remember hearing the news and my grandfather heard it at the same time while visiting during Christmas. He loved Billy.
We'll never know, but we can only guess how better Billy might have been as a manager or a person if he stopped drinking. I truly believe that had he gotten help he would have been a happier person and an even better manager.
Well said
Like the guy said in the doc when talking about Billy's drinking, "He was a man of his time."
I always criticized pro baseball as being ''boreball'. One night in 1977 , I put the TV on & saw the NYYs on the attack. ''THIS AIN'T BOREBALL''!!!! I faithfully watched the explosive NYYs every night for the rest of the season.
no one cares ....wagon hopper
No one remembers George Weiss' name worth a drop of nasty sweat. But millions of fans will always remember the name of Billy ''Ball'' Martin forever. Fans in NY, Twin Cities, Texas, Oakland, & Detroit will always remember Billy's winning ways. I'm not much of a C&W fan, but I love that song, ''The Turnaround Gang''. I always respected Billy for his ''hustle'' and clutch WS plays. I remember that many kids on the NYC playgrounds wanted to be Billy Martin. I faithfully watched the 1977 NYY and the ensuing WS. I wasn't surprised that the Yanks beat the Dodgers. It was nothing new. In 1980, I was in San Jose ,Calif. I enjoyed watching ''Billy Ball '' from Oakland .
Steinbrenner mustve been the most Forgiving person in History 2 Rehire somebody 4 times, a Lovable Hot Head like Martin mind u.
He was like that. Had me thinking he would give Trevor Bauer a shot.
His wife seems like a very nice lady but it must’ve been hard for her.
From an English relatively new Baseball/Yankee fan, I absolutely love this
Billy Martin's a legend. Il say that as a Braves fan
Miss him…,My Fathers drinking buddy in Detroit
I love Billy Martin.
Reggie Jackson’s biggest hater !
The hunting story is not true. Many people have told variations of it, almost always in public at speaking events. Danny White of the Dallas Cowboys tells the same story about a teammate of his. .... Total fabrication, a spin on a joke told by a comedian.
He was alright when he was sober but when he drank, look out. Alcohol brought out the demons. And his mother didn’t help. She seems like very mean woman. No wonder his father left.
I was a Yankees fan back in the '70s. Billy Martin was a part of my childhood.
I’ve been in security for years. I don’t buy for a second the bartender didn’t know how many drinks Billy had on his last day.
Billy was my manager for one MLB Spring exhibition game in Phoenix, 1982. He and Art Fowler said nothing to me or anybody. Both nodded off, hung over after a night at the Pink Pony. True story.
I saw Billy sitting at the bar at the Pink Pony. I didn't say a word. I was just glad I saw him in person.
I wish Billy was alive to hear his take on analytics.
To hell with 'Moneyball.' A 'Billy Ball' mini-series would be a worthwhile experience for baseball fans. It's too bad Billy never wrote a baseball strategy book like McCarver did. Billy's would have been awesome. Best baseball mind ever.
I actually just bought his “Billyball” autobiography a few weeks ago from a vintage book store. Might be the closest thing to it.
WHERE'S JOE TORRE WHEN U NEED HIM
An acolyte of Frank Sinatra's philosophy.
That's the way most people ultimately live.
Took decades to even ponder this. But had Martin lived to manage the Yankees in the early 90s they never would’ve had their run from 1994-04. Joe Torre would’ve most likely stayed in the NL, the core four wouldn’t have been drafted, ect, ect.
Agree 100 percent
That’s not really clear. Steinbrenner still would have been suspended so they still would have drafted and kept the young stars (I don’t like the term “core four” as it leaves out Bernie who was much more integral to their dynasty than Posada). The difference is that it is probably Billy that follows Bucky Dent in 1990-91 instead of Stump Merrill. Knowing Billy there’s a good chance he is out after ‘91, win or lose, and so Buck Showalter probably still takes over in ‘92. The real question becomes whether George goes back to Billy a 7th time after Buck runs his course, or goes for a total outsider like he did with Torre.
I agree withejslemp. John Turturro was terrific as Billy Martin in The Bronx. Is Burning which I loved
Casey. Said he can manage everybody but can't manage himself
A Deeply troubled human being But a Baseball management genius .A tragic tale though .
Billy Martin and George steinbrenner were both crazy....
40:07 imagine if Billy Martin did that to every reporter
Outstanding piece.
Ray Hagar hahahaha
Billy Martin was racist... there were a lot of things behind his hate of Reggie...but that was the root of it.
Rod Carew, Willie Randolph and Rickey Henderson didn't think so. Billy didn't like Reggie Jackson. A lot of people didn't like Reggie Jackson.
Reggie Jackson was more troublesome than Billy Martin waqs.
@@movieman9100 you mean like punching out marshmallow salesman and boozing. I think if you think about how Martin died...that explains his chaos. Reggie had an ego...but he was educated and intelligent. His ego got him in trouble...but he backed it up. In 1977 all was forgiven w Munson.