Remembering The Martin-whitson Bar Brawl

The infamous bar fight between Billy Martin and Ed Whitson took place on September 22, 1985, at the Cross Keys Inn, a hotel bar in Baltimore, Maryland. The altercation between the New York Yankees’ manager and pitcher is one of the most well-known incidents of its kind in baseball history.

The tension between Martin and Whitson had been brewing for some time. Whitson, who had signed a five-year, $4.4 million contract with the Yankees before the 1985 season, struggled to perform under the intense pressure of playing in New York. His performance on the mound was inconsistent, and he often found himself at odds with the fiery Martin.

On the night in question, after a loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees team gathered at the Cross Keys Inn. The exact details of what sparked the fight vary, but it is generally agreed that a verbal exchange between Martin and Whitson escalated quickly. Whitson, who had been drinking, reportedly confronted Martin, leading to a physical altercation. The fight was so intense that it spilled into different areas of the bar, and it took multiple people to separate the two.

The immediate aftermath of the fight saw Whitson with a broken rib and a fractured hand. Billy Martin, known for his combative nature, was also injured but to a lesser extent. The incident did significant damage to Whitson’s reputation and his standing with the team.

Following the bar fight, Whitson’s already rocky relationship with the Yankees deteriorated further. His performance continued to falter, and he found it increasingly difficult to handle the scrutiny and pressure of the New York media and fans. By the end of the 1986 season, Whitson requested a trade. The Yankees obliged, sending him back to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Tim Stoddard.

In San Diego, Whitson managed to revive his career to some extent, enjoying several productive seasons away from the New York spotlight. However, his time with the Yankees remained a blemish on his career, marked by the infamous bar fight with Billy Martin.

–Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor