Billyball

Martin has the reputation of being controversial, and his sequel to Number 1, written with the assistance of a New York Daily News sports-staffer, will advance that reputation. He focuses on his careers as manager with Minnesota, Texas, Oakland and, of course, New York, the players, managers and owners he has known and his philosophy of the game. He makes it clear that the practice of BillyBall (a term coined by an Oakland writer) is not a return to the days of John McGraw but involves utilizing each player's talents to the best advantage. He can be ruthlessly candid, suggesting that neither Sparky Anderson nor Gene Mauch is an effective manager and that Reggie Jackson is something of an egomaniac. When it comes to owners, however, the candor seems to vanish: Martin evidently never met an owner he didn't like. But, by and large, the book is provocative. Photos not seen by PW. (April 3)