In normal circumstances, there exists no beef between reporters and athletes. There exists an understanding between the two that the former is there to do a job and not to cause any trouble. However, that understanding went out the window when Ray Hagar tried to interview baseball star, Billy Martin.
Martin, who had been relieved of his managing duties by George Steinbrenner halfway through the previous season, was being interviewed by Ray Hagar at half-time of a Reno Bighorns game against the Las Vegas Dealers of the Western Basketball Association. Initially, Martin said the 25-year-old sportswriter challenged him to a fight. Hagar denied it, saying the fight started because Martin wanted to see his notes and Hagar denied him. Regardless of who you believe, Martin was the aggressor; punching Hagar right in the eye and then landing a few more blows before the two were separated.
Seeking an interview with the celebrity manager, the 25-year old Hagar approached Martin in the Coliseum bar. Martin always claimed that his promotional deal with the Bighorns included a stipulation of no press interviews. Hagar told Pennington in 2014 that Martin was completely soused. After initially blowing off the young journalist, Martin softened and agreed to answer a few questions. Hagar brought up a trade he’d seen come across the Associated Press sports ticket before leaving the office that day. The Yankees traded Martin favourites, Sparky Lyle and Mike Heath, to the Texas Rangers. Hagar wrongly assumed that Martin knew about the deal. Martin’s mood darkened. Then Hagar asked about Martin’s nemesis, Reggie Jackson. The manager flew into a rage and cut off the interview. He demanded Hagar’s interview notes. The young writer refused and held his clipboard behind his back. Martin socked him in the face. Twice.
Pictures of Hagar’s battered face, one eye swollen nearly shut ran in newspaper nationwide the following day. Hagar filed civil and criminal charges against Martin. Martin threatened to sue the Bighorns. George Steinbrenner threatened that any outcome short of an acquittal on criminal charges and dismissal of the civil suit would result in Martin’s firing (for real this time). The case hung over the Hagar, Martin and the Bighorns through the entire 1978-79 Western Basketball Association season.
"He hit me before I knew it," Hagar was quoted as saying at the time. "I didn't even get a punch in."
Six months later, Martin apologised to Hagar. Steinbrenner said Martin could only manage the Yankees again if he didn't have any legal issues brewing, hence the apology. An undisclosed settlement likely also helped ease the tension and end the legal battle, though there's no formal record of that. The incident was simply forgotten.
Billy Martin apologised publicly to Ray Hagar yesterday and told the Reno, Nev., sportswriter he was sorry for having punched him during an interview in a bar.
Hagar, who had withdrawn a battery complaint against Martin, also received a payment of $7,500 from the Reno Bighorns of the Western Basketball Association as‐part of the settlement. Martin had been making a promotional appearance for the Bighorns when the fight occurred.
"Nobody's happy about being in a fight,” said Martin at a news conference in Reno called to announce the settlement. “It's nothing to be proud of. I'm very sorry I hit Ray. We're good friends now."
After exchanging a handshake with Martin, Hagar said, "I'm just glad it's over. I hold no animosity and I wish Billy the best of luck in his dealings with George Steinbrenner."
Martin then said he would go to New York soon to explain the settlement to Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees. Steinbrenner has emphasised that Martin's planned return as manager of the team in 1980 had been jeopardised by the incident.
Steinbrenner has said many times that a satisfactory settlement of the Hagar case would be required if Martin is to return. Originally, Steinbrenner implied that an out‐of‐court settlement wouldn't be sufficient because it would carry a tacit admission of some guilt. However, a few days later, he said he would have to get all the facts and have a conversation with Martin before making up his mind.
Martin, asked in Reno if he felt the settlement would be satisfactory to Steinbrenner, said, "I go by a man's word and his word was that I would be manager in 1980."
Hagar, a reporter for The Reno Evening Gazette and Nevada State Journal, alleged that when he was struck by Martin, he suffered a black eye, assorted bruises and three chipped teeth. Charles Abut, Martin's attorney, contended that the volatile Martin was acting to protect a friend, Howard Wong, who had been threatened by Hagar.
Martin had compared the dispute to a family quarrel. "Just because you yell at your parents or your kids doesn't mean that you don't like each other," he said.
Hagar said he was, "glad and relieved it's over." "I was not at all intimidated into making the settlement," he said. "In fact maybe it was more the other way around. Some people advised me that should have gone through with the court action."
“But my main contention was wanted an apology from Martin — and I got it. I feel better about him now than I did. My lawyer told me that the Bighorns put up the money, $7,500. It probably came from Bill Meyers, their principal owner, a wealthy real‐estate man in Reno."
While it's believed that the incident was the biggest stumbling block on Martin's path back to the post of manager, Steinbrenner also cited several other incidents during spring training that he said might indicate that Martin was not acting in the best interests of the Yankees. Martin and his advisers hope to discuss those incidents with Steinbrenner at their meeting.
It's never nice when something like this happens. There exists no logical reasoning for this kind of behaviour. The important part of this story is that it was resolved and all was forgiven. A feud that continues for years can result in messy affairs and it can be difficult to bury the hatchet.