Billy Martin

Object Details

Artist

Richard Hess, 1934 - 1991

Sitter

Alfred Manuel Martin Jr., 16 May 1928 - 25 Dec 1989

Exhibition Label

Born Berkeley, California

Billy Martin was always a wild card. As an infielder with the Yankees in the 1950s, he contrasted average regular-season play with postseason sparkle that produced World Series victories for New York in 1952 and 1953. Unfortunately, the combative behavior that cost Martin his job with the Yankees in 1957 remained a liability as he later bounced around the league. After retiring from play in 1961, Martin switched to managing and built a reputation for his ability to turn underperforming ball clubs into winners. Named Manager of the Year on three occasions, Martin won five division titles, two American League pennants, and one World Series championship with the five franchises he piloted. Despite his successes, Martin’s volatility on and off the field made it difficult for him to keep a job, and his serial firings by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner became legendary.

Collection Description

In 1978, Time magazine donated approximately eight hundred works of original cover art to the National Portrait Gallery. The museum is dedicated to telling the stories of individuals who have shaped the United States, and the Time Collection—featuring prominent international figures and events—enriches our understanding of the United States in a global context.

En 1978, la revista Time donó a la National Portrait Gallery cerca de 800 obras de arte originales creadas para sus portadas. Nuestro museo se dedica a narrar la historia de figuras que han contribuido a forjar el desarrollo de Estados Unidos, y es así que la Colección Time, que incluye retratos de importantes personalidades internacionales, nos ayuda a comprender mejor a nuestra nación en un contexto global.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine

1981

Object number

NPG.84.TC127

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© Richard Hess

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Sight: 40.3 x 30.5cm (15 7/8 x 12")

Frame: 64.1 x 53.3 x 4.4cm (25 1/4 x 21 x 1 3/4")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Exhibition

NPG Mezzanine: 20th and 21st Century Americans

On View

NPG, South Gallery 342 Mezzanine

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Headgear\Hat

Equipment\Sports Equipment\Baseball Equipment\Baseball

Equipment\Sports Equipment\Baseball Equipment\Baseball bat

Alfred Manuel Martin Jr.: Male

Alfred Manuel Martin Jr.: Sports\Team manager\Baseball

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.84.TC127

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm41eaecad6-5f34-47aa-8be6-906150e6b487