Greatness in Waiting

An Illustrated History of the Early New York Yankees, 1903–1919

$39.95

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About the Book

Before they acquired Babe Ruth or won a single championship, the New York Yankees (né Highlanders) inspired the strongest of feelings in baseball circles. Stars such as Jack Chesbro, Hal Chase, and Brooklyner Willie Keeler had loud followers, and the team made loyal fans of those who disliked the crosstown Giants or Dodgers. Even Ban Johnson prized the franchise, which gave his upstart American League a foothold in the nation’s most populous city. Baltimoreans, on the other hand, nurtured an animus toward the team, which only a few years earlier had been called the Orioles. And former Orioles manager John McGraw hatched a plan, along with Giants owner Andrew Freedman, to sabotage the new club. This heavily illustrated volume combines a fully documented history of the deadball-era Yankees with more than 190 photographs of the people, places and events that figured prominently in the story.

About the Author(s)

Ray Istorico is a member of SABR (the Society for American Baseball Research). He has resided in New York City and Sarasota, Florida.

Bibliographic Details

Ray Istorico
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 241
Bibliographic Info: 195 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013 [2008]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7513-1
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments      v
Foreword by Marty Appel      1
Preface      3
Introduction—Who Are the Highlanders?      5

1. The Best Team Money Could Buy? 1903      9
2. The Old Fox      15
3. The First Bomber      16
4. Happy Jack/Mistake Pitch, 1904      18
5. Back to Earth, 1905      29
6. An Enigma at First Base      31
7. Dave Fultz, a Man for All Seasons      36
8. Almost There, 1906-1907      39
9. Goodbye Griff (Two Versions), 1908      52
10. Apocalypse      58
11. With a Little Help, 1909      60
12. The Emery Ball, 1910      69
13. “Drawing Flies,” 1911      82
14. Harry in the House (of Horrors), 1912      92
15. “A Bunion and an Onion,” 1913      103
16. No Chance, 1914      117
17. The New Breed, 1915      123
18. Big Bill      126
19. Origin of the “NY” Logo      130
20. Frankly Speaking      132
21. Wild Bill, 1915      135
22. Mr. Ed (Sweeney)      145
23. The Unluckiest Pitcher in the League      148
24. Meanwhile, in Boston      151
25. Mystery Man, Arthur Irwin      153
26. The Entertainer      156
27. Transitions, 1916–1917      161
28. Miller Time, 1918      180
29. The Vermont Schoolmaster      184
30. The Original “Murderer’s Row,” 1918–1919      189
31. Undercurrents      206
32. The Ping of the Bat      214
33. Before They Were Famous      216
34. Where Have You Gone, Frank Gilhooley?      221
35. New Beginnings      223

Appendix 1: Honor Roll      225
Appendix 2: The Ones That Got Away      226
Bibliography      227
Index      229

Book Reviews & Awards

“interesting…fascinating”—The Tampa Tribune; “commendable…a key Deadball Era resource…an important reference volume”—SABR Deadball Committee Newsletter; “marvelous…richly illustrated”—Island Sun.