The Yankee Years by Joe Torre, Tom Verducci Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Yankee Years
Book Review: An insightful look at America's game
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a Yankee fan. I am not a Red Sox fan. I have no dog in this fight.
Now, with that out of the way, I hope you'll give me a fair shake at this.
My opinion: this is a good read, at times even gripping. Its value lies beyond what gossip it contains about A-Rod or how it gets back at the Steinbrenners. It's an inside look at how baseball has changed, in ways that are often not that good.
I thought The Yankee Years would be a routine behind-the-scenes tell-all, but its ambitions are bigger. It chronicles the end of an era in baseball, a more innocent time before steroid scandals, big money and executive decisions based on advanced statistical analysis.
This is not a Joe Torre memoir. Torre provides his voice and viewpoint throughout the book, but Verducci also quotes dozens and dozens of other key personalities. He weaves it all into a fascinating narrative that covers all the highs and lows of the Yankee's dynasty years.
The book throws a spotlight on many key players from this era. Some shine, others don't. David Cone, Mike Mussina and Derek Jeter shine. Jeter, in particular, impresses throughout with his sunny optimism and quiet leadership. If you weren't a Jeter fan before, you will be after reading it.
There has been a lot of buzz about Torre dissing players in these pages. The "A-Fraud" reference to Alex Rodriguez is a throwaway reference to what guys in the clubhouse -- not Torre -- called A-Rod in 2004, about how the player tried to fit in during his first season as a Yankee. "People in the clubhouse, including teammates and support personnel, were calling him `A-Fraud' behind his back." Instead, Torre offers his clear-eyed assessment of Rodriguez as a player who can't succeed as a team player because of his fear of failure. "There's a certain free-fall you have to go through," he says, "when you commit yourself without a guarantee that it's always going to be good. There's a sort of trust, a trust and commitment thing that has to allow yourself to fail. Allow yourself to be embarrassed. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. And sometimes players aren't willing to do that."
It's almost biblical the way it all ends. A cloud of midges on a hot Cleveland night dooms the Yankees in a key playoff game. Thousands of the irritating insects descend on the mound, thoroughly rattling the pitcher. Bug spray makes the torment worse, not better. This perfect swarm seals Torre's fate. He leaves the Yankees not long after the loss, after a painful 10-minute meeting where he realizes his own personal Judas is his long-time general manager, Brian Cashman. "Cashman had retreated to silence with Torre's job on the line. The allies of Joe Torre had dwindled to zero."
Throughout the arc of this tale, Torre comes across as calm, determined and fair.
I should admit I do have a slight bias. When I was in junior high growing up outside St. Louis, Joe Torre taught me to play infield. He was playing third base for the Cardinals then. He appeared at the community center in my neighborhood outside the city one day and gave a handful of us kids a free lesson. I'll never forget it; he was patient and explained the game in detail, like he actually cared that we understood it. I learned a lot in that hour, from a decent man.
Here's the chapter list:
1. Underdogs
2. A Desperation to Win
3. Getting an Edge
4. The Boss
5. Mystique and Aura
6. Baseball Catches Up
7. The Ghosts Make a Final Appearance
8. The Issues of Alex
9. Marching to Different Drumbeats
10. End of the Curse
11. The Abyss
12. Broken Trust
13. "We Have a Problem"
14. The Last Race
15. Attack of the Midges
16. The End
Book Review: An insite to the players of the recent Yankee years.
Summary: 5 Stars
A great look at the player-management relationships in the recent Yankee years. It sets this season up as the ending is yet to come. It is very current to todays happenings.Book Review: Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this book for Christmas Present for family member. All of us have been Yankee Fans for years. I read the insert and part of the book. I know it is a must read for any Yankee Fan! I feel that it is especially important for those fans who enjoyed Joe Torre when he was manager of the Yankees. In my opinion he is as much a part of NY as the Donald Trump only better. It was a sad day when he left.Book Review: Bad Experience
Summary: 1 Stars
I have no idea about the product I ordered from a seller on amazon on April 6th because I still haven't gotten it and am waiting for Amazon to refund my money. Do NOT order from J. Weil Booksellers, unless you want to throw $17.00 down the drain.Book Review: Beyond The Standings and Pinstripes: Airing Dirty Laundry Yankee Style, WHY?
Summary: 4 Stars
I enyoyed reading the book. It is a worthwhile read. For most Yankee fans it is the pinstripes and the standings. Who really cares the Yankee scouts did not get their World Series Rings and then when they get them get fake ones to boot. Billy Crystal and Rohan Tynan got World Series rings (I am sure Rudy Guiliani also got one), I find that strange. George did not want to give the coaches their bonus money. Carl Pavano, what a dud, who ever answered for signing him. Did anyone look around the room and say who suggested we sigh him or Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield or Randy Johnson for that matter. Wells was tolerated because he could pitch. As long as you can pitch ANYONE is tolerated. Torre had his favorites, Cone, Bernie, Posada, Jeter. A-Rod never fit in with Joe. Yankees had to have him, he is star power, a Broadway Star. A Rod was signed to draw 4 million fans a year.
I believe Joe wrote the book (with Tom Verducci)as a backhanded slap at the Yankees. Joe did not need the money or fame. His place in the H.O.F is secure. When Joe shows up in the mid 1990's Yankees are a ship sailing aimlessly in the night. When Joe leaves 4 million plus in the house, $2500 seats, new stadium, $20 steak sandwiches, etc. He wanted a second year on the contract, it was that simple. Yankees said no to a second year and don't let the door hit you in the behind when you leave. Alas, Joe writes the book. It will be many years before Joe ever will return to the Stadium, what a shame. No mention of him when the Stadium closed last year during the last game. EVERYONE GOT OVERPAID BY THE YANKEES, they should have given him the 2nd year and let him manage in the new stadium. He earned it as much as anyone.