Billy Martin by Bill Pennington

Author:Bill Pennington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

31

GRUDGE MATCHES ARE RARE and often overstated. When it came to the Yankees and Royals of the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was no need to exaggerate. The hostility between the teams was outward and palpable.

In the second game of the 1977 American League Championship Series, Kansas City’s Hal McRae executed a football-style rolling body block while breaking up a double play. In today’s game, McRae’s collision with second baseman Willie Randolph—the 190-pound McRae catapulted over the base at about waist high, knocking Randolph into the outfield grass—would have drawn a multigame suspension. In 1977, it was just one of many hard knocks in the series. McRae got up, dusted off his uniform, and jogged off the field. The teams played on.

McRae’s takedown did seem to awaken the Yankees, who had lost the opening game of the series. They scored three runs in their half of the inning after Randolph was bulldozed and went on to win, 6–2, tying the best-of-five series as it switched from New York to Kansas City.

“Maybe I’m playing in the wrong era but there’s more of that to come,” said McRae, an outfielder and designated hitter.

Through tightly pursed lips, Billy had a message for McRae.

“You tell him that the Royals have a second baseman they like, too,” Billy said. “His name is Frank White and he’ll have to catch a double-play ball at second base one of these games.”

Kansas City’s Dennis Leonard pitched a complete-game four-hitter to dominate the Yankees in a 6–2 victory in Game 3 of the series. Baseball fans throughout the Midwest were thrilled by the prospect that the Yankees could be eliminated at Royals Stadium in Game 4.

“Everyone is rooting for us,” said Royals manager Whitey Herzog, whom Billy had replaced as Texas manager four years earlier. “Nobody likes the Yankees.”

Told of Herzog’s comment, Billy said, “He ought to keep his mouth shut or somebody will shut it for him.”

Herzog’s response?

“I’m ready when he is,” he said. “Let me know where.”

In the first inning of the third game, Mickey Rivers doubled and Graig Nettles singled. With runners at first and third base, Munson hit a ground ball to Brett at third base. When Brett threw to second base trying to start a double play, Nettles crashed into White, the Royals’ second baseman. Nettles did not so much as attempt to slide; he hit White shoulder to shoulder, throwing an elbow as both players somersaulted toward the outfield grass.

Nettles was out—an hour later he left the game because he felt dizzy from the collision—but Rivers scored on the play.

Gura was the Kansas City pitcher, and Billy had been goading him since the day before.

“I’m so anxious to face Gura I might send a bodyguard to his house tomorrow to make sure he gets to the ballpark safely,” Billy told reporters. “I don’t want him getting in an accident. I need him on the mound for Game 4.”

During the game, as he had done the year before, Billy was mercilessly riding Gura. By the second inning, it was 4–0 Yankees.

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