Greatness in Waiting
An Illustrated History of the Early New York Yankees, 1903–1919
$39.95
In stock
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)
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.