Billy Martin(1928-1989)

Billy Martin will always be remembered for his fiery personality, both on and off the field. Cleveland General Manager Frank Lane once said, "He's the kind of guy you'd like to kill if he's playing on the other team, but you'd like 10 of him on your side." Martin won the Most Valuable Player Award in the 1953 World Series, batting .500, with 12 hits, 2 home runs, and a series-leading 8 RBIs. His playing career ended in 1961, but his involvement in baseball was far from over. He went on to manage in Detroit, Texas, Oakland, and most notably, in New York. Martin was hired and fired five times during his career as the skipper for the Bronx Bombers. His untimely death on Christmas Day in 1989, at the age of 61, was a surprise to everyone.