Dec. 4, 1964 - The Old Man and “The Kid” shook hands and made up again after eight long years.
It all happened bang-bang, just like that, in the crowded hotel lobby of baseball’s convention headquarters in Houston today.
Suddenly, Billy Martin (pictured with Casey Stengel in 1952) strode up to Casey, extended his hand, and said: “Hi, Case. Good to see you again.”
For once in his life, mighty Casey was speechless. But he reacted quickly by putting out his right hand, too.
Martin’s words of greeting were the first that had passed between the two since Martin was traded by the Yankees to the Athletics on June 15, 1957.
Billy the Kid had been “Casey’s boy” a long time, but that deal put an abrupt end to their warm association. Martin felt Stengel had sold him down the river, and they didn’t speak to each other again until today.
But when they finally did get together, it was just like old times. They sat down on a lobby sofa, side by side, and that was all Casey needed to get him started.
“I broke this fellow into pro baseball at Oakland, and he could do anything,” Stengel said to a small group which gathered.
“He could hit behind the runner and bunt and play the infield. He played third base then…”
“Yeah,” Martin interrupted, “you were the toughest man I ever worked for. You hit shots at me in practice hour after hour it seemed like, and you used to say ‘catch that, you little so-and-so.’”
Stengel then went on to relate how he uncovered Martin at Oakland.
“I had this college shortstop I was looking at in a workout,” he recalled. “He was neat as a pin. Did everything according to the book. Wore his pants just so, put his cap on straight, and looked like something out of Spalding’ guide.
“I made up my mind to sign him for $4,000 when the club trainer, Red Adams, came along and said I was signing the wrong guy. Told me he had a much better-looking prospect. ‘Show him to me,’ I said.
“Well, he brings this kid out, and you never saw such a sight in your life. It was Martin here, and you ought to have seen him. Uniform all dirty, one pants leg rolled up and other falling down. I never saw anything like it before.”
But the talent was there, and Martin went on to play for Oakland and then move up to the Yankees.
Finally, after a long talk with his former player, Stengel got up and left.
“You know, that old man was mighty good to me,” Martin said. “I’m glad we’re talking again.”
Casey also had something to say.
“That fellow had his ups and downs,” he remarked to a bystander who had been in the group. “But he really looks good. I think he’s going to make Minnesota a great coach. He’s got a lot on the ball.”
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