Billy Martin's World Series heroics was fueled by a desire to surpass Robinson

For deep rooted baseball fans, while many are celebrating joyous occasions with their families, the tragic death of Billy Martin on December 25, 1989 is an annual reminder of how one's mortality does not escape the holiday season.

One of the fiercest competitors baseball has ever seen, his fiery temperament resonated with his teammates. Speaking with his New York Yankees teammate Bob Cerv in 2008, he recalled how much Martin was motivated to outperform Jackie Robinson when their clubs met in the World Series.

Jackie Robinson and Billy Martin Baseball Card / Upper Deck

"The only thing I remember Billy Martin would say was, 'I'm gonna do better than him,'" Cerv recalled. "And he did in the World Series."

Below are Martin's and Robinson's totals from the four World Series in which they faced off. If there was an MVP award in 1953, Martin would have certainly won it. Is it mere coincidence that Martin's best World Series performance came when Robinson also had his, or was Martin hellbent on proving that he was the premier second baseman in the city?

Billy Martin World Series Stats vs. Brooklyn Dodgers

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Series	Opp	Rslt	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1952 ❍	24	NYY	AL	WS	BRO	W	7	26	23	2	5	0	0	1	4	0	1	2	2	.217	.308	.348	.656	8	0	1	0		1
1953 ❍	25	NYY	AL	WS	BRO	W	6	25	24	5	12	1	2	2	8	1	2	1	2	.500	.520	.958	1.478	23	1	0	0		0
1955	27	NYY	AL	WS	BRO	L	7	26	25	2	8	1	1	0	4	0	2	1	5	.320	.346	.440	.786	11	1	0	0	0	0
1956 ❍	28	NYY	AL	WS	BRO	W	7	28	27	5	8	0	0	2	3	0	0	1	6	.296	.321	.519	.840	14	2	0	0	0	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2016.

Jackie Robinson World Series Stats vs. New York Yankees

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Series	Opp	Rslt	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1952	33	BRO	NL	WS	NYY	L	7	30	23	4	4	0	0	1	2	2	0	7	5	.174	.367	.304	.671	7	0	0	0		2
1953	34	BRO	NL	WS	NYY	L	6	26	25	3	8	2	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	.320	.346	.400	.746	10	1	0	0		0
1955 ❍	36	BRO	NL	WS	NYY	W	6	24	22	5	4	1	1	0	1	1	0	2	1	.182	.250	.318	.568	7	2	0	0	0	0
1956	37	BRO	NL	WS	NYY	L	7	29	24	5	6	1	0	1	2	0	0	5	2	.250	.379	.417	.796	10	2	0	0	0	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2016.