Today I woke up thinking about the great Yanks manager, Billy Martin.
I had watched a documentary on the YES Network about Billy the night before and it made me quite emotional because it naturally took me back to a different time. It reminded me of moments when I didn’t want to exist and Billy would take me to his office, close the door and tell me to “wake up” because no matter how bad I think I have it, there is someone else who has it much worse.
I used to love the fact that he often told me to always feel proud of my color. He said to Never ever be ashamed of my color and who I am. This is something that Billy and Mr. Steinbrenner had in common. They were both very big on this.
Every time someone broke me down mentally by telling me that I wasn’t worth a crap and worse and I would be ready to just give up during that period, Billy knew exactly what to say and how to make me feel better.
I could never tell Billy who was abusing me because he always told me if he found out he would beat the living hell out of him.
I loved the wonderful respect he always had for Yankee coach and the first black Yankee Elston Howard. I too loved Elston very much. I always knew that he had my back and always treated me better than just a clubhouse kid.
On several occasions I overheard Billy talking about Jackie Robinson with Whitey Ford and how Jackie always made Billy play better because nobody, but nobody was a better competitor. Billy once said that there was no way in the world that he could have done what Jackie did. He said that every time he played against Jackie it was really something special.
The thing that I loved the most about Billy was his wonderful love of his son Billy Joe. Billy and I both had fathers that had abandoned us. Our moms had to be a that strong presence in our lives. Coincidentally both their names were Jenny. Billy told me that he would always try to be as good a father as he could be.
Billy loved it when his son could visit and be around the team. Billy Joe would get in a batboy uniform and get on the field during batting practice.
One time Billy Joe overheard one of the coaches use the n-word and he mentioned it to his father. Billy Joe asked his dad why would that person use that word and Billy told him that unfortunately he grew up that way and was probably joking around. Billy Joe countered by saying… but you would never say that! Billy said … Never have never would. When you get older you will understand where I grew up and why I’m no better and no worse than anyone in this country.
Today, as is customary with me, I check in on Billy Martin Jr. As he is known by now.
I ask about his kids who I love very much because they understand the magnitude of who their Grandpa was. They know that he was special in the lives of many, selfishly especially me!
Billy told me that one of the best things that his dad did for him was to tell him about the greatness and importance of Jackie Robinson. He said that when they talked, he could tell that he was speaking to someone that was more than a baseball player.
It’s funny that Billy Joe would tell me that because that’s how I felt about Billy Martin every time we would talk.
