Synopses & Reviews
Love them or hate them, the New York Yankees are undeniably the world's most successful professional sports franchise. In this definitive history of the team's most successful era, bestselling journalist Peter Golenbock focuses on the sixteen-year period during which the Bronx Bombers won nine World Series titlesfive of them in a row. Captivating portraits of Hall of Famers include profiles of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford.
This year-by-year account covers such milestones as Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the 1961 chase of Babe Ruth's home run record by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, and more. Candid, in-depth interviews with players, managers, and coaches are complemented by a splendid array of vintage photos. Originally published in 1975, this spirited retrospective features never-before-published material, including a new Introduction by the author.
Synopsis
In this definitive history, bestselling journalist Golenbock focuses on a particularly dominant period of the Yankees' past, when the Bronx Bombers won nine World Series titles on the strengths of such Hall of Famers as DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, and Ford. Includes interviews of players and coaches, vintage photos, and a new introduction.
Synopsis
In this definitive history, a bestselling journalist focuses on a golden era in which the team won nine World Series titles on the strengths of Hall of Famers such as DiMaggio, Mantle, and Berra.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Dover Edition by Peter GolenbockIntroduction
Prologue: The Reorganization
The Early Years: 1949-1954 1949Old Reliable
DiMaggio's remarkable comeback
The strange, indifferent Joe Page
John Lindell, team prankster
Mean Vic Raschi
A pennant on the last day
The start of the Dynasty 1950
The Scooter
Wild Tommy Byrne
Johnny Mize, the angry Big Cat
A brash youngster, Eddie Ford, arrives
The destruction of the Whiz Kids 1951
A child prodigy named Mantle
The Indian, Allie Reynolds, and two no-hitters
Another pennant
and a subway series victory over the Giants
Joe DiMaggio says, "I have played my last game." 1952
Mantle and Martin produce
The peripatetic Gil McDougald
Tough Eddie Lopat
Another pennant
A classic Yankee-Dodger world series 1953
Hank Bauer--with a face like a clenched fist
The Chairman of the Board--Whitey Ford
The "little bastard," brawlin' Billy Martin
Another pennant
The Dodgers lose again 1954
Moose and Andy Carey arrive
The sad story of Bob Grim
Cleveland's revenge
The Middle Years: 1955-1960 1955
Prejudice and the N.Y. Yankees
The Gentleman--Elston Howard
Yogi
A pennant
Brooklyn's first world series victory
A trip to Japan 1956
An awesome season
The golden year of Mickey Mantle
Larsen's perfection
The last subway series 1957
McDougald and Herb Score
The Copacabana fracas and the departure of Billy Martin
Old Country
Tom Sturdivant, the laughter turned to sadness
Mantle's mysterious "shin splints"
Another pennant
Milwaukee and Lew Burdette in the world series 1958
"Break Up the Yankees!"
Bullet Bob
Casey grows short-tempered
Weiss's private detectives
Another pennant
Revenge in a bitter series with Milwaukee 1959
Great expectations
The nonpareil Ryne Duren--and his personal tragedy
Fierce booing for Mantle
Injuries
Dashed hopes 1960
Weiss's last great trade via the Kansas City shuffle--Maris becomes a Yankee and an MVP
The "Glass" Moose
A surprise pennant and a stunning world series loss to the Bucs
Bobby Richardson
Casey "retires"--bitterlyThe Disorganization Before the Fall
The Czar, George Weiss, retires
The roots of the decline
The Final Years: 1961-1964 1961
The greatest team ever?
Houk takes over
Sixty-one in sixty-one
The M & M boys chase the Babe
"Red Assed" Roger
Another pennant
Awesome power and an easy series victory 1962
Tommy Tresh
The Amarillo Gang--Pepi, Linz, Bulldog
Ralph Terry and his super season
Another pennant
A series victory over the Giants--by inches 1963
The Man with the Golden Glove, Clete Boyer
Great pitching
Super Sub John Blanchard
Another pennant
A Koufax, Drysdale world series 1964
Yogi takes over
Pepi
The Bulldog--Jim Bouton
The Harmonica Incident
The final flag
A loss to the Cardinals
Good-bye to Mel and Red
Houk and Keane
The end of the Dynasty A Heartfelt Acknowledgment
Epilogue
Index