"Pinstripe Empire" & other great Yankee/MLB Books

We discussed great MLB and Yankee Books, back in mid-March.

After debating to spend $50 for the Hardcover of "Pinstripe Empire", I took a trip to the Public Library today, and to my chagrin/surprise, I found this greatest single book on Yankee Lore-History, I have ever laid my eyes on, "PINSTRIPE EMPIRE"....(previously recommended by 59, as the ultimate Yankee Historical archive-record book). A 630 page all inclusive Reference type book, with GREAT stories, and INCREDIBLE old pictures, which would make for the greatest Poster's not found in any Man-Cave; (Pics-taken long before I could remember who I was before my Grand-Father was born). No doubt, this book belongs in every Yankee Fans personal Library. Thanks Again-Ron, once again sharing your insight, more than made my week(s), (of reading pleasure)...




A few other books, I was more than happy to find at the library, which I checked out, you would all enjoy, are also shown and noted below:

Joe Torre's:"The Yankee Years" (with Tom Verducci) by the New York Times.


A fantastic book of the 90s Yankees. One of the Greatest Teams to ever play, let alone in Modern Times. The last of the MLB Dynasties we will ever see.


Mattingly's book on Hitting: "The ABC's of Hitting .300" with Introduction by Rod Carew-, Kevin Long's "Cage Rat" was also available, but after reading the forward by A-Roid, and seeing AFraud's Pic with Long, I threw it in the Libraries fictional section, it almost made it to the trash can....a reprieve, or mercy on the "self appointed hitting guru...."wait for it".... !!!
Donnie's instructional book IS A must read for Kids today, or Coaches/Father's to read, and teach their Kids, Donnie's approach to hitting, which doesn't really differ from Ted Williams approach. What Williams books were to us old f'ks, Donnie's book is to today's kids, and Coaches.




Sultans of Swat-(The Four Greatest Yankee Sluggers:Introduction by Yogi Berra- Another great book, on Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle....!!! A book which can't fail its readers....!!!



"The Card" (Collectors, Con-Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card).



A good read for anyone even remotely curious about the History of Baseball Cards, or Tobacco Cards. As well as the History of the Game, in Wagner's era, as well as insight into the greatest SS of all time,..... well sorry Tulo.
The Card, is Honus Wagner's T-206, which was in short print by American Tobacco Co. due to Wagner's Lawsuit to cease printing of his likeness for a Tobacco Product he was strictly against, (the use of Tobacco). Wagner's lawsuit ceased printing immediately, printed in 1906, thus creating the "rarest" baseball card known to collectors. In short print, with Mint Cards being almost non-existent with exception of but a couple period. Not only does The Card, tell the story of this Multi-Million Dollar Rare collectible, its place in History, but the many lengths con-men will (still) go through to screw a honest collector out of his life savings.

If you remotely have ever had interests as a kid or adult in the card board cards, you may of once put in the spokes of your Sting-Ray, this book is for you. Informative, it gives collectors or simply fans, a perspective on the BB Card Hobby, unlike any viewpoints you may of had, then some. A must read, even for MLB enthusiasts, who have no interests in BB or Sports Cards. A must read for those fools who say-"what can a stupid piece of card board be worth"?

Wayne Gretzky and (then) Kings Owner Bruce McNall, put up 2.5 million $$$ of their own money, to buy one of only a couple Wagner Cards, which was graded as the best Wagner Specimen known in the Hobby....So, someone tell me, 5 mil for a piece of card board is a joke, and I will show you 2 men, who would beg to differ, ie, if you feel like arguing with The Great One.

Summary- With check book in hand, I was fully prepared to spend a couple hundred, hard earned dollars, to add these books to my personal Library. I recommend to any Yankee and MLB Fan, to check your Public Library for any great books, on your Amazon Wish List, before departing with those greenbacks. Once you read any of these books, you will wind up departing with your savings anyway. It's merely a matter of reading for free what you will eventually buy. At least after reading these, you can prioritize your library purchases or additions.

 

The books noted above, can be "looked inside' for a sneek peek of each books contents, on Amazon, with these URL Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Pinstripe-Empire-Yankees-Before-After/dp/1608194922

http://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Years-...490&sr=1-1&keywords=Yankee Years by Joe Torre

http://www.amazon.com/Don-Mattingly...ds=The ABC's of Hitting .300 by Don Mattingly

http://www.amazon.com/Sultans-Swat-...id=1400291196&sr=1-1&keywords=Sultans of swat

http://www.amazon.com/Card-Collecto...=UTF8&qid=1400287735&sr=1-1&keywords=The Card


If you don't hear from me for awhile (NOT), someone please make sure I'm still breathing. I may either have one of these books glued to my nose, or my eye sight will deteriorate to a point, I won't be able to read posts, or see thru the book glued to my face....

I feel like I found a few Diamonds buried in my own backyard. Great books like these, bring out the youth in all of us old men, for those who are old in body; always young in heart. Baseball is special, as it has a way of bringing out the kid in grown, even old men. (I'm not old, just classic, or so Kim says).

 

One book, not available at the local library, which U=I was able to order from another L.A. County Library-

I have been looking forward to reading this book, right behind Pinstripe Empire:

"1947-1957 Era, When The Yankees, Giants and Dodgers Ruled The World"



http://www.amazon.com/Era-1947-1957...kees, the Giants, the Dodgers Ruled the World


From Kirkus Reviews
An agreeably digressive and anecdotal trip, with a perceptive guide, down a remarkable span in baseball's memory lane. Drawing on experiences gained as a young sportswriter during the post-WW II period he resurrects here, Kahn (Games We Used to Play, The Boys of Summer, etc.) hits the high and low points of nearly a dozen seasons. The author's golden age began with Jackie Robinson's arrival as the first black to play in the major leagues and ended with the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants heading west to California, momentarily making the Yankees the only game in town. In between, the Big Apple's three clubs dominated the national pastime, winning nine out of eleven World Series (as often as not, from one another). During these years, moreover, triborough baseball had an almost perfectly marvelous cast of characters- -including Yogi Berra, Leo Durocher, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Walter O'Malley, Pee Wee Reese, Branch Rickey, Red Smith, Duke Snider, and Casey Stengel. In telling detail, Kahn recalls the notable achievements of lesser lights who frequently outdid their superstar teammates in championship contests. Cases in point range from Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning homer through Don Larsen's perfect game and the ninth-inning double by Cooky Lavagetto that broke up a no-hit bid by another Bronx Bomber (Bill Bevens). The author also sets the record straight on what the storied Joe DiMaggio was like off the field; the identity of the player who was Brooklyn's first choice to break baseball's color barrier; Larry MacPhail's alcohol-accelerated retirement; and the impact of the emerging medium of TV on ballpark attendance. While Kahn covers a lot of well-trampled ground here, he does so with an elegant authority that--without false sentiment or excessive nostalgia--puts certain of the diamond game's good old days in clear and compelling perspective. (Photographs--not seen) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this ti

 

http://www.amazon.com/Yankees-Centu...8085270/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t/182-1310483-5706445

 

Ah, I'm glad you re-posted this book Ron. My apology for the confusion, thinking Pinstripe Empire was what I was looking for, or the book you recommended.

I went through our old book posts, looking specifically for the title of this book you originally recommended: Yankee Century. I thought I had put it in my Amazon Wish List, back then, but to no avail.

Yankee Century is the ONE book, I want to read more than any other. Not in my Public Library System (YET). It is the ONE HOLY GRAIL of Yankee Books, no doubt...!!!

I would give up all the books listed above, to merely grace its pages. No date when the Library will purchase the book, or have it available on their shelves.

So-I did the next best thing, rather the best thing.....I said goodbye to Andrew Jackson, and hello to Amazon.

I ordered a Used, in Very Good Condition, Hard-Cover, for $20.52, with 2 day shipping.

See what happens as I get old(er), real things in life don't keep me up at night. My existence has been relegated back to that of a wishful dreaming kid. Good thing I don't have to ask my parents for permission.....

I still believe Yankee History will be a better read, than all the books I found at the Library. At least it will still be on my book shelf, when the others have to go back.... :-D

 

So what's the recommendation overall? Yankees Century or Pinstripe Empire?

 

From the little I have read of both:

I recommend Yankee History first and foremost, with Pinstripe Empire a close second.

when I looked at Yank History 2 months ago, I couldn't find a copy for less than 50 bucks, a bit rich for my pocket book. I bought a Hard Cover copy this morn for only $20.

If I had to choose between one or the other, not both, I'd definitely pick up Yankee History.

Pinstripe Empire is a great read as well. It recollects a lot of old pre-Highlander history as well, to present day.

Overall, I lucked out, found Empire at the Library, and found a inexpensive used copy of History. The best of both worlds.

If I like Empire as much as I think I will, that book too, will become a permanent shelf fixture in my collection.

One can't go wrong with either book tho'....but yes, I'd definitely recommend Yankee History-1st. I was looking for Yankee History at the Library, when I stumbled on Pinstripe Empire, quite by luck.

 

Wait, there are three books? Yankee History, Yankees Century, and Pinstripe Empire?

 

...Have not read the others, but Yankees Century blew me away, especially the first 1/3 of the book, before they became a dynasty. It amazes me just how close the Yanx came to never existing at all...a lot of shady characters, payoffs, dirty deeds, etc., went into the making of the infant team. Hell, up until about a month before their inaugural season they didn't even have their own home ballpark...they had to begin the season on the road.

 

My BAD Steve.....my head and fingers are dyslexic today, well most days.

There are only 2 books, (i should of clarified better). Errantly, I have been referring to the book Ron originally recommended as Yankee History, but in fact it is Yankee Century. Someone kick me in the head, wake me up....

Pinstripe Empire is the 2nd book.....

My apologies for confusing ya'll....sorry...!

Do you have a library close by Steve? I was surprised to find these books at the local library, which rarely has anything worth reading, that is not 40 years old.

 

Yeah, there is the a library, but it isn't big... I seriously doubt it would have either... I can't find Yankee Century anywhere new for less than $50...

 

Keep an eye open of Amazon. I have been looking on Amazon.com at Yankee Century, several times a week, since Ron recommended it back in the 3rd week of March.

It was $50 then, and has been until I checked on it this morning. I found one single copy for a lower price. A used "new" copy (hardcover) for only $20.52, which includes free 2nd day air shipping, since its a Amazon Prime vendor.

Now and then a person who bought/read the book, turns around & puts their copy up for sale. I lucked out, there was but 1 copy for this price. Keep an eye on it, & you will find a cheaper copy. In fact I will keep an eye on it too, and let you know when I see a copy for a good low price...I'll PM you when I do. It's only a matter of time.

Pinstripe Empire is a lot like Yankee Century, in the respect, it covers the advent of the Highlanders, (before they even moved to NY); and the behind the scenes big money NY area, baseball clubs, and other shady millionaires, who's agenda to keep the club from coming to NY, only exceeded their desire to be bigger greedy millionaires.

Both are approximately 630 pages long/short, and books you would expect to be in a Reference Section of a Library.

Hey'a Ron, (I've been meaning to say)-thanks again, for the initial recommendation. I took your advice seriously my friend.... :-D

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yankees-Cen...1?pt=US_Texbook_Education&hash=item27e3d70717

 

New....

I've seen them used, and buying used from someone, the varying degrees of used are widely open to interpretation... like new, very good, good, etc.

And not even just books either... I've seen a jersey I ordered as "like new" come with stains on it and then the seller argued with me...

So I'd rather not go the route of something listed as "like new" or "very good" if there is writing in it or tears, ya know?

 

...as opposed to paying $50 + shipping for a brand new one?...and as soon as you read it, it won't be "new" anymore.

 

I guess.... I've just been burnt on eBay before...

 

...really?...I've had great experience with ebay...oh yeah, there's an occasional misrepresentation but I always look for sellers with good feed back and the ones who do offer refunds.


...I also found these...with FREE shipping....hell, how bad could they be?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yankees-Cen...d=100011&prg=9835&rk=4&rkt=10&sd=171326244631


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yankees-Cen...d=100011&prg=9835&rk=5&rkt=10&sd=171326244631

 

That being said, both times I've been burnt was on jerseys...

 

...I understand. But hell, I'm just wanting you to have this book...I promise after you read it, you'll thank me for recommending it...(I've probably read it front to back at least 5-6 times and each time I discover some fact that had gone unnoticed before)...like I said, you won't believe the BS the Yanx and Ban Johnson went through just to get the franchise going.
...hard book to put down once you start reading it.

 

Cool