Review of "The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey"

The return of baseball season means I'll be attending games.  My preferred method of transportation for these trips is either a train or a bus, meaning more reading time. Here is my review of this book I read on a recent trip to Yankee Stadium. 

Title/Author:

“The Heyday of Willie, Duke and Mickey: New York City Baseball’s Golden Age Amid Integration” by Robert C. Cottrell

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

After World War II ended, major league baseball went through a period of great change as it integrated Black players into the game.  It also went through a period of dominance by New York teams as at least one of the three New York City teams – New York Yankees, New York Giants or Brooklyn Dodgers – appeared in the World Series in 9 of the 11 years between 1947 and 1957.  This period of baseball history is chronicled in this book by Robert C. Cottrell.

Cottrell covers this from two views – one from on the field with good recaps of the seasons for each of the three New York teams.  He also provides readers with the progress of integration of the major leagues. Of course, he starts with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, but he does an admirable job of informing the reader of the progress made by other clubs as well. This also includes the lack of progress of integration on some clubs, most notably the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

One thing to note is that if a reader has read other books on either topic, there probably won’t be much new material that they have not already read.  This book gives a good overview of these items.  The sections with the most detail are those that talk about the pennant races and World Series matchups involving one of the three teams.

Something that did catch me by surprise was the title did not seem to really be the right one for the book.  While each of those three Hall of Fame center fielders did get a good amount of text, it felt like the subtitle would have made the better title.  For the record and for those who were not familiar with the names, they were Willie Mays of the Giants, Duke Snider of the Dodgers and Mickey Mantle for the Yankees.

Overall, this was a decent book and one that was fine for passing the time on a train ride to Yankee Stadium for a ball game.  It is best suited for those readers who were not already familiar with this golden age of New York City baseball.

I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: Heyday of Willie, Duke, and Mickey, The: New York City Baseball's Golden Age amid Integration: 9798881842574: Cottrell, Robert C.: Books

Review of "Mickey & Billy"

Ending February with a slew of books - this one being an audio book.  Was surprised that on NetGalley it was only offered as an audiobook after publication, but no matter - I enjoyed listening to this one.  Here is my review of "Mickey & Billy". 

 

Title/Author:

“Mickey & Billy: The Glory and Tragedy of a Yankee Friendship” by Tony Castro, narrated by Matt Godfrey

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin were teammates on the New York Yankees during the team’s great run of success in the 1950’s.  They played hard together both on and off the field. While some of their stories have been known for year, this book by Tony Castro does bring some fresh material to their stories, especially that of Mantle.

Mr. Castro is a noted historian of Mantle’s career, having previously published several books on the Yankee legend and at the beginning of this one, he acknowledges his personal relationship with Mantle as well. Given that, it isn’t surprising that the bulk of the book is about Mantle, but there’s good information on Martin as well, especially about his upbringing with his mother.

Without going into too much detail on the stories, as many of them are either well known or as Mr. Castro noted, they are gained from his personal relationship with Mantle. I did appreciate some of the stories from Holly Brooke, a woman with whom Mantle had a relationship even while he was married to his high school sweetheart Merlyn.  I also did enjoy the description of how much Mickey wanted to please his father and how his father’s death in 1951 soon after Mickey’s rookie season was completed affected Mickey so greatly.  Even to the point of marrying Merlyn because he felt his father would not approve of not doing so.

The narration by Mr. Godfrey is also very good and kept me engaged in the book, even if I had found the information elsewhere.  Whether that was from previous books by Mr. Castro or other books I have read on both ballplayers, I found this one to be very enjoyable to listen to and recommend it for any Yankee fan.

I wish to thank Dreamscape Media for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: Mickey & Billy: The Glory and Tragedy of a Yankee Friendship (Audible Audio Edition): Tony Castro, Matt Godfrey, Dreamscape Media: Books

Review of "Tao of the Backup Catcher"

Needing to find a good audio book on a recent drive to the Baseball Hall of Fame, I found this one buried in my Audible library.  Downloaded it and enjoyed it immensely.  Here is my review of "The Tao of the Backup Catcher." 

Title/Author:

“The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game” by Tim Brown, narrated by Tim Brown and Justin Price

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: This is a question for baseball fans, no matter what their level of interest.  Can you name the backup catcher for your favorite team?  If you can’t, then have no fear, this book by Tim Brown on one of the more unknown yet fascinating positions on a baseball team is part biography, part philosophical waxing and all a fun read.

The biography part is on a career backup catcher who had many stops in both minor league towns and in MLB cities, Erik Kratz.  Brown chronicles Kratz’s many stops along his way to appearing in 332 major league games over 11 seasons.  Just his list of MLB teams is extensive – nine different teams. Starting with the Pirates (when he was 30 after spending eight years in minor league baseball), Phillies, Blue Jays, Royals, Phillies a second time, Astros, Pirates a second time, Yankees, Brewers, Giants, Rays and Yankees a second time when he decided to retire for good at age 40. And this doesn’t cover all the moves to different minor league towns. Through it all, there are plenty of interesting stories about him and his wife.

However, the best stories are not really about Kratz personally or the other backup catchers whose names are mentioned throughout the book.  What is the best aspect of the book is how this job, while well paying, is one that is full of many different tasks.  Everything from warming up pitchers in the bullpen to how it is difficult for the backup catcher to get enough batting practice is covered.  Not everything in the book is related to what happens in the ballpark.  With so many moves, there is plenty of material on the many tasks Mrs. Kratz did to move the family.  Another great (and funny) anecdote is about Erik’s shower shows – there is enough about them that they get their own chapter.

This is just a small sample of the very interesting and fun material to digest in this book.  Like many who hold the position, this book may not make best seller lists, but it is one that baseball fans will want to have in their library and have ready when they need a lighter read – their backup catcher of baseball books.

Link: Amazon.com: The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game: 9781538726556: Brown, Tim, Kratz, Erik: Books

Review of “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty”

Keeping up with my theme of reading a book about the team or sport I am attending, I read this book on the New York Yankees on a bus trip to Yankee Stadium. Even though it’s been out for a long time, I have had it on my TBR pile for a long time and now it’s finally on the “previously read” file. 

Title/Author: “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” by Buster Olney

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: In the six year period from 1996 to 2001, the New York Yankees played in the World Series 5 times, winning 4 of them in 1996 and in 1998-2000. This book by ESPN baseball expert Buster Olney examines the only one they lost in that time frame and specifically game 7 in which they lost when Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks their first, and so far only, championship.

The book digs deeply into the Yankee organization, from owner George Steinbrenner and his micromanagement of the club to players who were important to the success of the team. This included the superstars like Derek Jeter, other key players like Tino Martinez and David Cone (even though Cone was not on the team in 2001) and Chad Curtis. Even if a reader has read other books or material on the Yankees during that time frame, this is still a very interesting look at the team and one might find new information on those Yankee teams. 

This type of information is inserted between chapters that describe an inning of game 7 on the 2001 World Series. If there is anything that makes the book less than enjoyable for a reader, it could be this back and forth between game 7 and the sections on the Yankee organization. I thought that structuring the book in this manner worked well, especially when the chapter on game 7 ended with a Yankee player making a hit or out and the next chapter would lead with something about that player. 

It’s a different look at that time frame of the storied Yankee history. It also isn’t too critical of the team but doesn’t sugar coat the problems that were building up beneath all the winning. It’s a fair and balanced book that baseball readers should enjoy.  

Link:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BM2ZM2/ref=ku_mi_rw_edp_ku

Review of “Get Your Tokens Ready”

To my fellow American friends, I hope your Independence Day weekend has been safe and fun. And what would be more appropriate that reading a book on America’s Pastime, baseball? This book takes a look at the two New York teams leading up to their match-up in the 2000 World Series.

Title/Author:

“Get Your Tokens Ready: The Late 1990’s Road to the Subway Series” by Chris Donnelly

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: While I usually do not consider the title of a book in the thoughts of whether or not I wish to read it. But the title of this one certainly caught my attention. I did recall that Michael Kay, broadcaster for the New York Yankees, exclaimed this catchy phrase when the Yankees clinched the American League championship in 2000, setting up a World Series against the New York Mets in what would be dubbed the “Subway Series.”

Author Chris Donnelly, who has penned two other books on New York baseball, does a nice job with this one as well. Starting with the first regular season game between the Mets and Yankees, Donnelly takes the reader inside the stands, dugouts, locker rooms and front offices of both the Mets and Yankees leading up the Yankees becoming the kings of New York baseball for at least that time. 

Donnelly spares practically no one from either club during the period of 1997-2000 from getting at least a mention in the book. From Mets pitcher Dave Mlicki to Yankees utility man Luis Sojo, Donnelly spans these four seasons with great detail about the two New York clubs both on and off the field. These two players were chosen because the bookend this period covered in the book - Mlicki was the winning pitcher in that first ever 1997 interleague game between the two New York teams and Sojo drove in the winning run in game 5 of the Subway Series to win it for the Yankees.

There is not a lot of extra material in the book such as short biographies or side stories. Practically every word has some connection to the performances on the field or activities by the front offices to improve the teams. The closest story that can be considered to be a side bar would be that of Mlicki, whose outstanding performance in that 1997 game is the subject of a few short chapters interspersed between the longer ones on the two clubs.

It was mentioned in the book, as well as the media at that time, there there would likely be little interest outside of the New York metropolitan area in the Subway Series. Without being quite that harsh, this is a book that would certainly appeal to fans of the Yankees or Mets but might not hold the interest of fans of other teams. Or, if a reader is a baseball historian or just one who likes books that concentrate on the game (I fall into this category), then they should check it out as well.

I wish to thank the University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Get-Your-Tokens-Ready-Subway-ebook/dp/B0DJS15B2C/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Review of “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History”

Continuing with my baseball theme to start the new season, this was an audiobook I started on the bus trip back from the Mets home opener and finished a couple days later. Title is a little over the top, but the book is solid. 

Title/Author: “The Greatest Summer in Baseball History” by John Rosenberg, narrated by Barry Abrams

Rating: 4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 1973 was an eventful year in both baseball and America. For the latter, several important events that would affect the nation took place. The withdrawal of American troops in Vietnam, the Watergate hearings, and the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision were among the most notable of these. In baseball, the New York Yankees were purchased by a Cleveland shipping company owner named George Steinbrenner, a legendary player played his last season while another chased a hallowed record and a team that frequently fought amongst itself was trying to repeat as champions. That is the setting for this book by John Rosengren. 

Having listened to the audio version, the narration by Barry Abrams is definitely one of the strengths of this book. His telling of some of the major stories in both America and baseball was excellent. Whichever topic was discussed, Abrams did so in a no-nonsense manner that came across much like the news anchors at that time (though non of them were ever mentioned in the book).

The title seems a little hyperbolic as while there were some excellent storylines in that 1973 baseball season, they didn’t feel to be so much better than other years. To his credit, Rosenberg doesn’t compare them to big stories in other years. He sticks with a few topics and covers them thoroughly. These would be the ending of Willie Mays’ career with the New York Mets, Hank Aaron’s pursuit of the all time home run record of 714 by Babe Ruth, the introduction of the designated hitter in the American with a focus on Orlando Cepeda of the Boston Red Sox, and the new Yankee owner who immediately let it be known it was his way or else.

On this last topic, this was the best mix of sports and social or political events of a year or era that I have read in a book of this type. Steinbrenner’s eventual conviction of illegal campaign contributions, especially to President Nixon’s 1972 re-election bid, tied in nicely with the writing on that summer’s Watergate hearings. While not quite as easily done, there are good connections between baseball and these events throughout the book.

As with any book on a baseball season, this climaxes with the World Series. The Mets and the Oakland Athletics played an exciting seven game series won by Oakland to give them back to back championships. The many storylines made by the Athletics, their star Reggie Jackson, and their universally disliked owner Charlie Finley are covered well, as was the unbelievable comeback by the Mets who were left for dead in August only to win the National League East title, then upset the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS. Of course, the Willie Mays saga is included and overall, the coverage of the baseball is very good, even if it is a bit repetitive on some facts and descriptions. 

Any reader who enjoys books on certain years or seasons in baseball with plenty of social or political commentary will want to check this book out. Highly recommend the audio version. 

Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Greatest-Summer-in-Baseball-History-Audiobook/B0C2W37Z93?eac_link=SMHsVJ6gcDX2&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B0C2W37Z93&qid=X1m21vL1JG&eac_id=141-2071635-4315628_X1m21vL1JG&sr=1-1 

Review of "1978"

Continuing with the posting of baseball book reviews to start the 2025 season, this was an enjoyable read about the 1978 season.  It was much better reading than watching my team start the season 0-3!  Hopefully they turn it around soon - meanwhile, here is my review of this book. 

Title/Author:

“1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era” by David Krell

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

In 1978, baseball and the social culture of the United States were both undergoing significant changes.  In social circles, disco was the most popular genre of music, there were actions taken to advance the causes of feminism (one of which involved baseball, allowing female sportswriters access to baseball locker rooms), and many movies and television shows showcasing new talent. 

In baseball, however, the change really brought something that was not so new – the two best teams in 1978 were the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Like the previous year and many times in previous decades, they faced each other in the World Series.  This book by David Krell examines the paths the two teams took to get there and also takes readers into the details of many popular movies, television shows, musical artists and some social issues as well.

Krell never gets too deep into any one topic, not even the baseball as many of the stories told about the Yankees, Dodgers or other teams are never too lengthy – they are just long enough to get the message across about what were the results.  A great example of this is how the Yankees won the American League East division over their rivals, the Boston Red Sox (another team that has a good amount of coverage).  While the chapter on September (there’s a chapter for each month) mentions the “Boston Massacre” when the Yankees swept a four game series at Fenway Park to complete a comeback from 14 ½ games behind the Red Sox, there is little else about this comeback save for the first story in October about the tie-breaking game played by the two teams.  

For other subjects, it’s the same style.  Whether talking about a new comic genius named Robin Williams appearing on “Happy Days” as Mork from Ork, movies such as “Grease” or news events such as the assassination in San Francisco of supervisor Harvey Milk and George Moscone, Krell has the same style – enough coverage for the reader to understand the story, but not too much detail where the reader may lose interest.  This is especially important to readers who experienced these events as they will bring back memories and maybe even add something they did not recall.  The book’s style certainly would appeal to these readers who lived through that baseball season.

While not completely about the 1978 baseball season, this book is nonetheless an enjoyable and quick read for fans of the game in that time – the beginning of free agency, the re-emergence of the Yankee-Dodger rivalry and some other events that made that season memorable for many fans.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: 1978: Baseball and America in the Disco Era: Krell, David: 9781496239600: Amazon.com: Books

Review of “Locker Room Talk”

As an avid reader of Sports Illustrated in its heyday, I remembered this author and her case against Major League Baseball. Here is my review of Melissa Ludke’s fight for equal access. 

Title/Author:

“Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside” by Melissa Ludke 

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Melissa Ludke is a well-known name to those who follow or study women’s rights. After being denied access the the locker room of the New York Yankees following their win in game 6 of the 1977 World Series, she and Time Inc. (the owner of the magazine Ludke wrote for, Sports Illustrated [SI]) sued Major League Baseball on the grounds of sex discrimination. Ludke’ a recall of the judicial hearing and her personal life at the time are the subject of this book she authored.

Ludke shares the story of how she became interested in sports journalism, the blatant sexism she faced and her happiness after obtaining that vaunted press credential when she started covering the Yankees for SI. During that time, she did have access to the Yankees locker room for interviews so it was quite a shock to her when she was denied access after the World Series by commissioner Bowie Kuhn.  The story Ludke shares about the many obstacles and denials she faced that night will sadden and anger a reader today who may not be aware of how much discrimination female sports journalists faced at that time. 

Stories about Luke’s personal life, most notably her rushed decision to marry a man she barely knew, don’t seem to have anything to do with her legal case, but by the end of the book it seems to make sense. This is especially the case when she shares the story of her decision to obtain an abortion not long after Roe v. Wade. Since the story is about women’s rights, it certainly does tie in with the main subject.

The testimony given before the hearing and that actual case make up the bulk of the book and while on the whole it is very fascinating, there is so much repetition of statements and opinions by Ludke that much like the judge during the hearing, the reader may ask when this part will ever end. The additional stories about female sportswriters who had access to NBA and NHL locker rooms at the time make Luke’s case even stronger.

There is text on MLB’s argument that it wanted to ban female reporters to protect the players’ privacy but both Ludke and the judge end up ridiculing that argument and the hearing ends up in favor of Ludke. However, that doesn’t mean a happy ending for her as she still has struggles with her professional life but will eventually come to a good place and seems to now be doing well.  Well enough to write a book about a very important case in the struggle by women for equal rights. 

I wish to thank Rutgers University Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Locker-Room-Talk-Womans-Struggle-ebook/dp/B0CH8W7WVC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hNvrwNYbEzLqplPxRX4oTg.ZmKEvfear5xdmXEb7rRR-2AYTp_1p8CmM5TfUnhDTuI&qid=1727565306&sr=8-1 

Review of “The Yankee Way”

Train or bus rides to baseball games are often spent by me reading a baseball book. On my rides to and from a recent Twins-Mets game, I read a book on…the Yankees! Here is my review of “The Yankee Way” 

Title/Author:

“The Yankee Way: The Untold Inside Story of the Brian Cashman Era” by Andy Martino

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

Given the frequency with which the late George Steinbrenner hired and fired field managers and general managers through much of his tenure as the owner of the New York Yankees, it seems hard to believe that the current general manager (and now senior Vice President), Brian Cashman, is in his 27th year at the position. His tenure is the subject of this excellent book by New York baseball journalist Andy Martino.

The book, despite words to the contrary by both Martino and Cashman, could be considered a biography of sorts on Cashman. His upbringing, college years and how he became interested in the business side of baseball are all mentioned. His break came in 1986 when while still attending  the Catholic University of America (on a baseball scholarship) he worked as an intern for the Yankees. He got his first paid gig for the team as a baseball operations assistant. He gradually worked his way up in various positions until being named Yankee GM in 1998.

No one, including Cashman himself, will say that his rise in the front office as well as the immediate success the Yankee had under him as GM with three consecutive World Series championships and five American League pennants in his first 6 years, was all due to him. The core of that team was recruited, signed and developed under Gene “Stick” Michael, who ran the club when Steinbrenner was banished from baseball between 1990 and 1992. Micheal and his work is covered quite extensively in the book as well as that of Bill Livesey, the scouting director who had his own system of grading and developing players.

Cashma’s handling of the team never truly wavered during his tenure, during the early championships and the advent of analytics. The Yankees were the forefront of the use of this data along with a few other teams, most notably the Houston Astros. Other issues affecting the Yankees and Cashman’s handling of the drama are included. Most notably, these include the tense relationship between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez and the free agency winter of 2022-23 when Aaron Judge became a free agent and ended up re-signing with the Yankees.

It helps if the reader is at least somewhat knowledgeable about baseball in the 21st century as if they are not, they may get lost in all the analytics. However, if the reader does have at least a rudimentary understanding of the sport this is a great read, even if one is not a Yankee fan. 

I wish to thank the publisher for providing a review copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. 

Link:https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Way-Untold-Inside-Cashman/dp/0385549997/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=