More than a star pitcher and accomplished coach, Mel Stottlemyre has a history that serves as a behind-the-scenes tour of four decades of baseball. From Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, Stottlemyre connected generations of stars during a remarkable career. The fact that he had a complicated, sometimes bitter relationship with George Steinbrenner for thirty years adds a layer of melodrama to the story of one of the classiest men ever to wear pinstripes—for both the Yankees and the Mets. In his long-awaited autobiography, Stottlemyre tells his story in colorful detail, from his days as a rookie sensation on the last of the great Mantle teams to those as trusted pitching coach during the Joe Torre administration. Along the way he takes readers inside the clubhouse of championship ball clubs, describing the defiance of the '86 Mets, from manager Davey Johnson on down, that defined them as champions but then destroyed them prematurely. Stottlemyre also recalls the true grit and selflessness that helped make Torre's Yankees a dynasty from 1996 to 2000. Finally, there are the ups and downs with Steinbrenner, from stand
For young readers
Book data: Open Library