Billyball!

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,954779,00.html

"In Oakland, a Record Blast-Off
Monday, May. 04, 1981 By B.J. PHILLIPS

"Billyball" is winning games and drawing fans for the A's

When Billy Martin's Oakland A's climbed from last place in 1979 to second in the American League West last year, critics insisted that Martin's magic could not last. He was, after all, using mirrors— often platooning eight mediocre players, for instance—to create the illusion of an infield. Certainly Oakland's starting pitchers were impressive, setting a modern record by completing 94 games in 1980. But, it was argued, the strong arms would weaken with overwork. In any event, the league was wise to the wiles of Billyball, as Martin's harumscarum tactics became known. Surely no catcher would fall for the double steal in 1981 after being burned so often last year, and of course pitchers were now alert for the attempted steal of home, the hit-and-run, the ubiquitous bunt and other hallmarks.

With the new season just 2½ weeks old, the A's have delivered an emphatic answer to the hot-stove skeptics: the longest season-opening streak in modern baseball history. Oakland won its first eleven games, breaking the ten-game record held by three teams. Throughout that remarkable span, the A's starting pitchers completed all but one game and compiled a miserly 1.27 earned run average. At week's end Oakland had won 15 of 16 games, opening a full ten-game lead over the defending champion Kansas City Royals."