Greatness in Waiting - by Ray Istorico (Paperback)

About the Book

Before they acquired Babe Ruth or won a single championship, the New York Yankees (nee Highlanders) were a team that inspired the strongest of feelings in baseball circles. Stars such as Jack Chesbro, Hal Chase, and Brooklyner Willie Keeler drew loud followings, and the team made loyal fans of those who disliked the cross-town 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.

Book Synopsis

Before they acquired Babe Ruth or won a single championship, the New York Yankees (ne 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.

Review Quotes

"interesting...fascinating"-The Tampa Tribune; "commendable...a key Deadball Era resource...an important reference volume"-The Inside Game (SABR Deadball Era Committee Newsletter); "marvelous...richly illustrated"-Island Sun.

About the Author

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