Billy Martin, West Palm Beach Stadium, West Palm Beach, Florida

Stephen Shore

1978

Color photograph

Seattle Art Museum

Billy Martin (1928-1989) was a hero and antihero, often in the same day. As a baseball player, coach, and manager, he was as famous for his off-the -field battles as his on the field victories. He was hired and fired and traded by owners of teams who admired his skills but deplored his manners. A former Yankee pitcher observed, "Lots of people look up to Billy Martin. That's because he just knocked them down." Reporters made the most of his punching sprees, aimed at anyone from a marshmallow salesman to his own pitchers. Most effective as a manager, he led teams to victory and commented, "I've always said I could manage Adolf Hitler