Goodbye, No. 1: The death and funeral of Billy Martin | Eyewitness News Vault

Eyewitness News anchor Greg Hurst began Eyewitness News at 5 with the news that shocked so many on Christmas Day 1989: "We've lost one of baseball's most colorful characters. Former Yankees infielder and manager Billy Martin is dead at the age of 61.
We best remember Martin for his antics on and off the field, kicking dirt on umpires, barroom brawls, and of course his brilliant strategy in 1977 when he and the Bronx Bombers won the World Series. But now we'll also remember the accident, the accident last night in which building Martin died."

[@BH02377]

One of the best managers in baseball history, period!

[@Bruhahaah]

Get real

[@BR_70]

People love real people. The man was flawed, who isn't? The man had passion, who doesn't? The man achieved things most of us never will, but he was just a man, with passion and flaws, anything is possible.

[@bradlott3284]

Went to high school with Billy Jr. Met his dad several times. Wonderful and sweet guy

[@shocbomb23]

I will never forget this I was 11 years old and I was playing with my new toys near the tree when my Father put the news on and we heard what happened 😢

[@hernandezhernandez3764]

Okland A's FAN in 1980 -92 the best !! Thanks dad for the memories!!😊

[@eW91dHViZSBpcyBjZW5zb3JzaGlw]

I want to go back to this simpler time,....

[@allencollins6031]

Me too

[@domenickmacri7936]

Me too

[@jerest1000]

we all do...

[@kimkelly5512]

Billy Martin belongs in The Baseball Hall Of Fame for managers. Billy was the one driving according to Yankee history.

[@vitomcsween974]

One of the most tragic moments of history I didn't know him but he had a huge impact on my life even after he was gone

[@bigdrew565]

Honestly, I don't know that Billy lives much longer than he did. At the end of his last stint he looked like he was in pretty bad shape. His liver was about as shot as Mantle's was at the same age.

[@stevenjamesgiurbinojr6893]

dude always looked like he was 80yrs old his whole life, lol, skinny as a rail, feeble and weak looking too…..RIP 💐

[@victorsuarez3546]

R.I.P Billy. R.I.P. MLB from the past.

[@archstanton4365]

I remember this night well.

[@TBevill1231]

Still remember when he was guest announcer at Wrestlemania 1.

[@paulsonj72]

Yep he wasn't managing then He would come back as manager about a month later after WrestleMania I

[@samushunter0048]

This is the Eyewitness news crew I remember when I was still living in NYC. Also remember when Billy died of the car crash.

[@samanthab1923]

Katy is still working! For WPIX 11

[@samushunter0048]

@@samanthab1923 cool

[@PeekaBooo23]

And Sam Champion has come back full 360 since he has been returned to Channel 7 Eyewitness News as the AM weatherperson

[@robertaustin4059]

One of the best in baseball rip billy

[@Bailey2006a]

A drunk, a hot head... he was glorious!

[@steverogers9824]

WOW WHEN THE NEWS WAS REAL ... MISS YOU BILLY 1

[@HH-pk2wh]

Kaity Tong ❤

[@jiveassturkey8849]

It’s hard to believe he would be 94 now.... time moves way too fast.

[@billythekidder7182]

He wouldn’t have made it to 94.

[@jiveassturkey8849]

Keth Richards will

[@billythekidder7182]

@@jiveassturkey8849 who was talking about Keith Richards? Who?

[@jiveassturkey8849]

@@billythekidder7182 the guy on first

[@billythekidder7182]

@@jiveassturkey8849 you’ve wasted enough of my time

[@fire12731]

I remember this well

[@cynthiacopland8634]

What a Man! What a mighty fine man ⚾️⚾️⚾️

[@samuelgriffin4167]

Yankees won the 1977 World Series with the late Billy Martin

[@mamatemari6061]

Katy Tong moved from WABC to WPIX WB 11

[@paulsonj72]

Was this Christmas Night 1989 and if so was it the 6PM or 11PM News(although the 11 PM News was delayed as ABC had a Monday Night Football Game that night)

[@KeithS-sl6ii]

He lived life the way i wished I did

[@jayritchie851]

Billy had his flaws as a person but as a Manager, he won everywhere he went. He should be in the HOF.

[@johnnyballenatl]

Of course, Billy Martin’s death wasn’t the only major story that dominated the news on Christmas Day 1989; Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed (under him, the country was denied celebrating the holiday for decades).

[@johncassani6780]

It’s funny. I was 9 back then, and remember both events very well, but did not remember that they took place on the same day. I believe Ceausescu was arrested, tried, and executed on that day.

[@MikeCee7]

Did Reggie Jackson attend the funeral?

[@mjp96]

We all have our flaws, obviously - but he always came across to me as a good-hearted person. That's all that matters.

[@bluet6898]

Remember those newscasters ,David Navarro and Jim Dolan are still there, Kaity Tong is on another local channel, whatever happened to Greg Hurst and Marc Steven's? Remember of course Billy Martin, he was a train wreck, sadly.

[@shirellgamble1063]

Greg went to Tx then moved to TN he been gone 23years ago

[@jimboscooter432]

RIP

[@paulfox7899]

One of a kind.

[@HH-pk2wh]

He is missed .

[@richardtoplitsky322]

I remember this Christmas

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

Norman Rose doing the voice-over at the start, right?

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@JCordoba1001]

Lol Kaity Tong couldn’t introduce herself?

[@Chris-cq5pw]

Seems like a troubled guy. Thank god the drunk driver’s car didn’t kill any innocent bystanders.

[@nobhill6808]

🕯️

[@nellycollins7878]

Yooo, Kaity Tong hasn't aged

[@samushunter0048]

True. She looks amazing to this day

[@barnabyjones6995]

Back when baseball was baseball and the United States were still united.

[@user-py8xw5bk1s]

100%

[@netsfan88]

How so?

[@HH-pk2wh]

Amen 🙏

[@LinkRocks]

Oh shut up.

[@rayjr62]

ROLMAO. Yeah, right.

[@TrayDyer38]

Billy didn’t punch that Doggy… but he was driving when he crashed HIS pick up truck that killed him.

[@kevinburke6055]

No he wasn't the autopsy proves he was the right side of the vehicle but no seat belt u can blame him for that.

[@Daniel-yr7ld]

I want to see a clip when Kaity fills in for Bill Beutel so I can hear Roz Abrams say “the news continues now with KAITY Tong!”

[@rayjr62]

LMAO @ Roz Abrams. She was a real piece of work. I remember when she worked at KRON back in the 1980s.

[@douglascritchlow2207]

Don't drink and drive

[@samuelgriffin4167]

Billy Martin fired from The Yankees too many times

[@d.l.l.6578]

One gets the impression this was a drunk driving accident.

[@rubedogg6969]

I didn’t punch that doggie. RIP

[@wallyohrel9086]

He did have few 🍺⚾️🍺⚾️🍺

[@newyork2021]

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” King James Version (KJV) 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” King James Version (KJV) Matthew 6:20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” King James Version (KJV) Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” King James Version (KJV) Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” King James Version (KJV) John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” King James Version (KJV)

[@BR_70]

News people are so phony.

[@Bruhahaah]

Alcohol did him in, he and Mantle.

[@kendallevans4079]

Billy was a drunk, was his whole life. It finally caught up with him.