George Steinbrenner, Willie Mays and I have two things in common. We are all 79 years old and are all connected to baseball.
George Steinbrenner personifies success as an owner. Not a popular figure among his peers he nevertheless has achieved while others have failed. Possibly, money cannot buy happiness, but it can and did buy championships for the Yankees under Mr. Steinbrenner's stewardwhip. Money was always an issue but never an object. In spite of the enormous sums that were lavished on premium and (not so premium) players, the value of his investment in the 37 years since he bought the Yankees for $8 1/2 or $10 million (sic) has grown to an estimated 1 1/2 billion dollars today.
Willie Mays, arguably, was the best player of his era, the 1950's and '60's. A great hitter, consumate fielder and baserunner and the possessor of one of the strongest arms in the game. Perhaps with his effervescent personna combined with his natural talent for the game he might be judged as the most popular player of the past 75 years, if not of all time.
And me, well, I am a baseball fan and have been for more than 70 years. I grew up with the Dodgers, Willie was a Giant, and George a Yankee. All three teams lived together in New York for 5 plus decades although in three different boroughs.
George Steinbrenner, whose success can be measured by the result of financial expenditure was at best incorrigible and at worst, worse. He spent, hired, fired and rehired as was generally unpopular within the industry. That having been said, he was a great success in building the Yankee franchise to what it is today. Bill Madden tells it like it was and is, no holds barred, nothing left unsaid. This book is a wonderful depiction of the man, his cronies, his players, managers and coaches as well as a primer on "how championships are bought". He mostly got what he wanted but not the respect of those with whom he dealt.
Every fan is acquainted with Willie Mays. But this bio by James Hirsch puts it in perspective. Everything in this book is a terrific read from the smallest detail to his most obvious accomplishments. Willie was loved by every fan and still is in the hearts of those same fans and their children and grand children, almost 40 years after his retirement. This affection is captured page after page after page. Willie, #24 (Jackie wore #42) will forever be remembered for his affable laugh and pleasing demeanor.
As a fan I found these two books miles ahead of other biographies of sports personalities. They were interesting, superbly researched and objective. They she be in the library of every baseball fan.
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