Billy Martin And Clint Courtney Fight At Yankee Stadium 1952

Yankees second baseman Alfred Manuel “Billy” Martin had a tough childhood growing up in Berkeley, California. A small boy with a large nose, Billy was picked on by the other kids. Billy learned to fight back and hit hard and never back down. But it would cost Martin. He was thrown off his high school basketball and baseball teams for fighting.

Martin’s toughness carried over to the major leagues, fighting players such as Cubs pitcher Jim Brewer, Red Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall and others who he felt had  provoked him. Martin’s most famous fights were with Clint Courtney, a fiery scrapper and the first major league catcher to wear eyeglasses.

This photo above shows their first confrontation, as the news slug describes:

Cut-Up On The Diamond
New York: After a heated exchange of punches, Clint Courtney (right) and Billy Martin of the Yanks continue their brawl in close-quarter action as Joe Collins (41) rushes to break up the fracas. The Brownie catcher, claiming he had been tagged hard on the head, charged at Martin after being thrown out at second base on an attempted steal in the 8th inning of the July 12th game at the stadium. Courtney was ejected from the game after the fight was broken up, but Martin was allowed to remain. Yanks scored a 5-4 victory. photo: Arthur Rickerby United Press International 7-12-1952

Though it’s not mentioned in the news slug, Yankees starting pitcher Allie Reynolds knocked in the winning run in the eleventh inning for the complete game victory.

It looks like Martin is kneeing Courtney in the groin. Courtney, nicknamed “Scrap Iron” for his toughness, never landed a punch while Martin connected with two right jabs to Courtney’s jaw.

The American League took no punitive action on Martin. But Courtney’s punishment was a $100 fine and three day suspension.  Courtney ended up missing five games because two of the days he was suspended the Browns had double-headers.

Martin told reporter Jack Hand that he was “friends” with Courtney, Yet, Martin had also beat Courtney up in a minor league game n 1947. Courtney roughed up Martin’s manager and second baseman, Arky Biggs, spiking Biggs’ and breaking his arm. Martin beat Courtney soundly.

The Combatants Resume Hostilities

In the tenth inning of a night game in St. Louis on April 28, 1953 Courtney started trouble again. Courtney was trying to stretch a single into a double and the throw from the outfield beat him to second base. Courtney barreled into the Yankees diminutive shortstop Phil Rizzuto practically knocking him to the outfield grass while dislodging the ball from Rizzuto’s glove. The Yankees immediately swarmed Courtney with second baseman Billy Martin, pitcher Allie Reynolds, third baseman Gil McDougald and left fielder Gene Woodling all punching away at Courtney, setting off a wild bench clearing brawl. Second base umpire Johnny Stevens dislocated his shoulder in the melee.  This time Courtney received a $250 fine but no suspension.

Clint Courtney had a solid 11 year major league career with a career .268 batting average.  Courtney died of a heart attack while playing table tennis in Rochester, NY on June 16 1975. He was 48.

Billy Martin, would also play 11 seasons batting .257. However, he hit .333 in 28 World Series games. But Martin’s lasting fame would be as a successful manager for five different teams over 16 seasons, including five separate managerial stints with the Yankees. Martin died in a car crash on Christmas Day 1989 in Johnson City, NY. He was 61.