Customer Reviews

The 50 Greatest Yankee Games

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4 star:		(1)
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This book was not what I had hoped to see. 50 games are given the same kind of thumbnail sketch that I've seen too many times before in so many other books that the end result is an end product that just seems like a slapped together collection of information anyone can glean from books already out there. And if that isn't bad enough, some of Tan's choices for the 50 Greatest Games are mindboggling in their stupidity when contrasted with what gets left out. Who in their right mind would say that a game where Tony Fernandez hit for the cycle in 1995 was greater than Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS with Jim Leyritz's two run HR in the 15th inning? Or that the Jeffrey Maier game of the 96 ALCS should be left out, along with Games 4 and 5 of the 2001 WS? I almost got the feeling that Tan didn't want to write about multiple games from a particular postseason because that would have required too much effort on her part. Indeed, most of the lead-in for a game description consists of a recap of the entire season up to that point (which in itself eats up much of the brief time allotted for the game), and to do more than one game for a particular postseason would have required more detailed about the game and less filler time.

You also would have thought that Tan would at least go to the trouble of providing box score information on the games profiled, but we don't even get something convenient like that. And her description of the Babe Ruth called HR game contains a howling error when she reprints the so-called "Radio call" of Cubs broadcaster Quin Ryan. That call is a phony recreation done long after the fact, and Tan should have known that.

Books like this are IMO the worst kind because all they do is give the most rudimentary thumbnail sketch of a game without attempting anything fresh or insightful. If one is not as much of a hardcore fan and wants just an introductary primer to some of these games, it can perhaps be useful, but for the serious Yankee fan, don't waste your money.

Greatest games books can be very boring; this one is anything but. The 50 greatest Yankees games are intelligently selected and thoroughly covered in 50 separate essays. The writing is solid and entertaining. However, the design of the book, with no box scores and only a tiny separation between each game essay, could be better.

I received the book quickly and well packaged. The book was in excellent condition. Thank you

My best friend is a die-hard Yankee fan and LOVES tis DVD! One of his top Yankee DVDs.

I agree with the other reviewer that Tan might have chosen some different games for the top 50, but isn't disagreeing with the picks half the fun of a book like this?

I found the writing fun and breezy, and many of the chapters nostalgia-provoking. I came of baseball fan age during the late 70s run--that is, I was 10 years old--and the book was a great reminder of those days when the game was grittier and I had to run home from school to watch the Bucky Dent game, picking it up in the third inning, because it was played during the day.

The games the Yankees lost were especially interesting because that would make them seem contrary to the idea of a "greatest" game, but Tan showed why they were so special. This reminded me of Pete Rose telling Sparky Anderson after Game Six of '75 series that the game was the greatest he'd ever been in. Sparky, in disbelief, reminded Rose that their Reds had lost. Rose just looked back in disbelief, understanding that sometimes winning truly isn't the only thing.

I got this book as a gift and will give it as a gift myself several times over. I highly recommend it.

You read her in Yankee Magazine, you read her on her website, heck you even read her on the message boards of BehindtheBombers.com. Some of you may have read some of her earlier works as well. How do you write a book on the Greatest Games of an icon in sports history? That task sounded difficult to me but Ms Tan has taken that task and made it most enjoyable.

The author takes us through the history of the mighty Bronx Bombers and through the magic of her pen she brings us back to the games we grew up with. Her thorough research and interviews covers memories from every generation.

I asked myself how could you pick only 50 games from the multitude of games the Yankees have played? Well after reading the book I couldn't think of a single game she missed. From the obvious perfect games to the oblivious Andy Hawkins no hit loss it is all there. She drives us through the dynasties to the lean years and back again. She dusted the cobwebs out of the pinstriped portion of my brain for sure.

Cecilia Tan has a hit on her hands with this book. Whether you a baseball historian of just love the lore of the game you should go out buy this book and pick one up for the Yankee fans on you gift list they will thank you for it.