Customer Reviews

Birth of a Dynasty: Behind the Pinstripes with the 1996 Yankees

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I am not a big fan of Joel Sherman's New York Post column, so I didn't have the highest of expectations when I first opened this book -- but I must say that after reading the opening three chapters on the '95 Division Series, Joe Torre and Derek Jeter, I was hooked. This book is the equivalent of Buster Olney's "Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty", only Sherman covers the buildup to the 1996 World Series victory and its lasting effects, whereas Olney used Game 7 of the 2001 Series to recap the dynasty and how it had reached that night in Arizona.

Two things jumped out at me with Sherman's book. First, he does a great job describing the key moments of the season, so much so that instances I had forgotten about of late were suddenly fresh in my memory once again. While some have found this tedious, most people who followed the Yankees that season will welcome all of these tidbits and game descriptions. Secondly, as much as I previously knew about the dynasty Yankees, Sherman manages to bring new things to light that I'm sure most Yankee fans were unaware of, and emphasizes the importance of happenings that back then may not have seemed so significant. Sherman also makes it a point to show how much luck and "destiny" played into the title run. Like Tony Fernandez breaking his elbow at the end of Spring Training after a Derek Jeter error extended the inning, followed by the Yankees nearly trading Mariano Rivera to Seattle for FELIX FERMIN and starting Jeter at AAA in '96.

Sherman provides background on a number of players and issues -- Rivera, Jeter, Torre, Joe Girardi, Tino Martinez, David Cone and Bernie Williams, to name a few, as well as the end of the Buck Showalter era, the abuse of Bob Watson, Steinbrenner's behind-the-scenes craziness, the split in the organization over using a rookie shortstop to start what was hoped to become a championship season, David Cone's battling with and comeback from his aneurysm, and Frank Torre's heart transplant, among plenty of other issues.

I highly recommend it for any Yankee fan, especially those who followed the '96 season as closely as I did.

My favorite kinds of baseball history books are the ones sportswriters and historians do in looking back retrospectively at a great season of a great team. It's hard to believe the Yankees of the late 90s have already reached that time where such a book is necessary, and Joel Sherman of the NY Post has delivered with the best possible look back at how a great dynasty began.

Far superior to Buster Olney's 2004 work (which was ruined by its overobsessive focus on Game 7 of the 2001 WS in too much minute detail), this book starts with the 1995 Division playoff loss to Seattle and builds things from there. The difference between this overview, and the one written after the 96 season by John Harper and Bob Klapisch, is that being written with the benefit of ten years of perspective, we can understand better how the 96 team that started it all, did not begin the dynasty in pounding, intimidating fashion. Rather, the 96 club of Joe Torre was one that had to face an uphill climb through key injuries like David Cone's aneurysm, and who also were at one point in the ALDS against Texas halfway from going down 0-2 iin the series with three games on the road ahead of them.

Sherman's conclusion is also a welcome breath of fresh air to all the crap that was written during the Yankees dynasty run of how their greatness somehow revealed some alleged "problem" in the game of baseball about the "unfairness" of the Yankees ability to win. What the Yankees did starting with the scrappy 96 club, and which they built on with the greater glories of 98-00, deserves to be ranked as perhaps the greatest feat ever performed by a baseball team. And all the whining from the Yankee-haters (the most pathetic group of people in all of professional sports fandom) should be seen only for the sour grapes galore that it always will be.

Bravo Mr. Sherman, for giving us a look-back to feel good about, and doing so in a fascinating, gripping way. Let's hope the 10th anniversary of the 98 team will soon see a similarly well-written retrospective!

If you are a fan of the yankees or grew up during their dominant years then this book is for you. It gives you great insight into your favorite players, and history of their rise.

Did you know Mariano Rivera almost got traded 3 times? Or Jorge Posada was a minor league shortstop?

Good Stuff!

I'll start off by saying that I am, in no way, a Yankees fan. However, what makes this book impressive is that it's enjoyable not only for fans of the pinstripes, but for anyone who enjoys modern baseball history.

With this effort, the Post's Sherman chronicles 1996, their first season of dominance. The writing is almost strictly chronoligical, but Sherman keeps things interesting by discussing both off-the-field happenings and the personalities involved with the team. There's plenty of background on players like Rivera, Cone, and Jeter, and a good explanation of Steinbrenner's decisions, including everything and everyone that influences those decisions.

There are plenty of game accounts, some of which might drag on for non-Yankee fans. I'm sure that all Yankee fans will love reliving special games from that season, but they can become a little dull for other fans. At the same time, though, Sherman focuses mostly on critical games, and it's easy to understand why they have been included.

There have been several books over the past few years that focus on one team and one season. Of those, this is definitely among the best, and I'd recommend it. It's a good choice for any baseball fan, although Yankees fans are likely to get the most out of it.

If you're a Yankee fan like I am, this book is a great read. It's mind blowing to see how almost every decision the Yankees made in putting that '96 team together worked out. From 5 other teams passing on Derek Jeter, to almost dealing Mariano Rivera countless times, and for little or nothing in return, this book gives a great insight into what you need to build a championship caliber team. All in all, it was a great read, and I'm sure I'll be reading this book again and again...

Great book not only for Yankee fans but for baseball fans in general

I heard about this book on the radio.Sherman captures the thrilling times of the Yanks in the late 90's. Well written and enjoyable brought back some memories.....

Also recommended : Bronx Zoo by Peter Golenbock and Bronx Cheer by Chetan Dave

I'm a huge Yankee fan so I enjoyed the opportunity to remember the events of their first championship season in nearly two decades, but Sherman desperately needs an editor. The book completely lacks structure, with tangent building on tangent to form an incoherent mess. There are diamonds in the rough in the form of interesting revelations, but getting to them can be hard work indeed.

The author should write a follow up how mismanagement, awful decisions, and a terrible farm system have caused the hideous decline in this team's fortunes over the past five years.

Yankees suck.