(Originally published by the Daily News on October 28, 1985. This story was written by Bill Madden.)
KANSAS CITY - With "absolutely" no input or stipulations from the principal owner, the Yankees yesterday officially terminated the "Billy IV" era and confirmed Lou Piniella will be their manager in 1986.
The announcement of Piniella's hiring and Billy Martin's fourth dismissal - first reported in yesterday's Daily News - was made in typically unorthodox Yankee fashion. It came via a conference call from Yankee Stadium to World Series headquarters here. Yankee general manager Clyde King and Piniella were at Yankee Stadium, but conspicuous by his absence was George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' principal owner.