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ALSO SEE
Billy battled opponents, himself
Billy's Bronx Zoo
Quotes on Billy Martin
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Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Martin's maxims
Quotes by Billy Martin
"I don't think so because I've got the reputation for being baseball's bad boy and I don't deserve it. But I think I'd make a good manager. For one thing, I know how to handle men. That's the secret of managing. For another, I know enough about the game, not fundamentals, but executing. I think I could get the most out of players with common sense and psychology. I'm fiery enough that I'd have their respect. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever get the chance and there's nothing in the world that can change that."
--On his chances of ever managing, quoted in Baseball Digest, June 1961
"I believe if God had ever managed, he would have been very aggressive, the way I manage."
--As A's manager, quoted in Sports Illustrated, March 30, 1981.
"I've always said I could manage Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Hirohito. That doesn't mean I'd like them, but I'd manage them."
--As Yankee manager, widely quoted
"Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. Thre trees are greener."
--As Yankee manager, Quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Sept. 17, 1975
"I get fired because I'm not a yes-man. The world's full of yes men. The first year that I became manager, 1969, with the Twins, I won a division championship. And got fired. The Tigers hired me. I had made $35,000 and the Tigers gave me a big raise. I won another division title and got fired again. Texas hired me, and with a bigger raise. I came in second, and got fired. The Yankees hired me, and tripled my salary. When I got fired there, and Oakland hired me--they gave me an unbelievable raise. I've got a long-term contract now, but if I get fired againd, I might run for President."
--As manager of the A's, quoted in a New York Times interview, July 15, 1982
"All I know is, I pass people on the street these days, and they don't know whether to say hello or to say good-bye."
--As Yankee manager, widely quoted
"The only real way to know you've been fired is when you arrive at the ballpark and find your name has been scratched from the parking list."
--widely quoted
"Sometimes I would do just the opposite of what George wanted me to do, because I won't let anyone tell me how to manage. If I'm going down the tube, I'm going to do it my way."
--from Number 1
"The two of them deserve each other. One's a born liar, the other's convicted."
--On Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner, widely quoted
"What does George know about Yankee pride? When did he ever play for the Yankees?"
--On Steinbrenner, from Number 1
"I'm getting smarter, I finally punched something that couldn't sue me."
--As A's manager on breaking his finger after punching a piece of furniture, quoted in Sports Illustrated, September 6, 1982
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