European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday june 23, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 21 troubleshooter Steinbrenner fakes charge of yanks in bold attempt to end squabbling Byril Grimsley new York a owner George Steinbrenner has stepped in to take Complete charge of the turmoil wracked new York Yankees. Asked repeatedly who made the decision to retain Billy Martin As manager the Tampa shipbuilder responded did. It was my decision  Steinbrenner and president Gabe Paul new to de troit monday to meet with players and try to Clear the atmosphere before the Yankees took the Field before the monday night game against the tigers won by de troit 2-1. The meeting took place amid rumours that Martin was going to be sacked and possibly replaced by coach Yogi Berra because of his dugout Yelling and attempts to fight outfielder Reggie Jackson saturday. We were headed for Complete  Stcin Bren nor said. Dissension on the team was terrible. We were pelting no leadership and no fire. Something had to be done  Steinbrenner insisted that he had no intention of firing Martin whom he regards As an outstanding Man Ager but he added that Martin along with some others had been derelict in carrying out his responsibilities. I told Billy he had to shape up that he had to pay More attention to his responsibilities off the Field As Well As on the Field and do it immediately. He was very subdued and he has promised to Contact me every Day. I plan to keep in daily Contact with the Progress of the . Who had been pictured As favouring Jackson in clashes with his manager said this was absolutely not  owner said he upbraided his $2.9 million outfielder for recent remarks on racism and told him that if he brought up the subject again "1 will beat your head  listened and took it Steinbrenner said. Jackson had been quoted As saying i m a Black Man with an in of 160 making $700,000 a year and they treat me like dirt. The Yankee pinstripes Are Huth and Gehrig and Dimaggio and Mantle. I m just a Black Man to them who does t know How to be  the Detroit meeting the owner also sought out Nurman Munson the team s most valuable player in 1976 and Captain and told him he thought he was shirk ing his Captain s  thought Jackson was the Captain Munson told  re the Captain Steinbrenner replied. When 1 want Jackson to be my Captain. I la Tell him and you too. You re the Captain. Now be the  and Munson had been involved in personal feuds growing out of a derogatory remark about Munson in a Magazine article in which the outfielder said this team. It All flows from me. 1 am the Straw that stirs the  players contacted Steinbrenner afterwards and said that they thought the Stem dressing Down would prove to be what the team needed. Pitchers hot Tiant s two hitter lifts Homer Happy botox Over o a 7-0 by United press International these an the Saddest of possible times for Billy Martin. Not Only did the beleaguered new York Yankees manager come within a whisker of losing his Job this week but his Ball club is now in the throes of a five game losing Streak. And to make matters worse the Yankees chief american league East Tor mentors the Boston red sox have opened up a 4 b game Lead Over both new York and Baltimore after winning their fifth straight tuesday night a 7-0 Victory Over the orioles. Particularly upsetting to Martin however must be the manner in which the Home run Happy red sox Are suddenly winning Al Roundup with pitching. Twice in the past 10 Days Martin needled that a Lack of pitching would ultimately Cost the red sox the Al East  that void has been nowhere in Evi Dence Over the past three  sunday Ferguson Jenkins helped Complete a three game Boston sweep Over the Yankees by hurling a three hitter. Monday night Rick Wise fired a two hit shutout Over Baltimore and in tuesday night s win. Luis Tiant duplicated Wise s performance. Seven hits off Boston pitch ing in three games Martin s statement had nothing to with  said Boston manager Don Zimmer after Tiant s two hit Gem. "1 Don t feel my continued on i age at Jose Bali of the Seattle mariners has to struggle to keep his footing and still make a throw but is successful to torn part of the hurdles plete a Feu to play toss to first base de spite edme upset by Tom Poquette of the Kansas City royals during the first inning of a game in Kansas City. The mariners did t have much More Suc Cess As the royals won. 1j-3. A Texas source says Lucches will be fired by Denneil. Freeman Dallas a Frank Lucchesi. The 48-year-old manager of Hie Texas rangers. Will be fired this week probably in the next two Days an unimpeachable Ranger source told the associated press by Telephone from Minneapolis tuesday. The source was the same one who said Billy Martin would t last out the week with the rangers in july 1973 Martin did t and Lucchesi replaced him on july 21.1975.Texas is in Minneapolis for a four game series with the twins. The rangers Are close to the top in american league West but Are some 100, 000 behind in attendance from last season. Majority owner Brad Corbett who had been a staunch Backer of Lucchesi. Now says this Road trip is  rangers have talked to Eddie Stanky. Former Chicago White sox and St. Louis cardinals manager and now head baseball coach at the University of South Alabama. The Job is apparently Stanky s if he wants  Ranger source said Lucchesi would be offered a spot in the organization. Luc Chesi has a year to go on his contract. Fort Worth radio station Krov contacted Lucchesi in a Minneapolis hotel and he said i m a Little shocked and sur prised but it sounds like to me tie re could be some panic in the upper Levels of the Ranger  asked to be More specific. Lucchesi added "1 can t get into that right now. It absolutely ridiculous to have All this talk going on while we Are a contending  it s been a Tough year for Lucchesi. The rangers skipper was beaten up in Spring training Camp by Lenny handle who thought he was t getting a fair shot at second base. Handle was sold to the new York acts and has a threat of a suit hang ing Over his  two weeks ago. Lucchesi became dizzy at a game and was rushed to the hos Pital. He missed a series with the Boston red sox while he recuperated. Doctors said Luc Chucai apparently was just suffer ing from heat  players on the team have been reluctant to go on record about Lucchesi. But re on Murd on Page 23