Yankee for Life: My 40-Year Journey in Pinstripes [Hardcover]

Bobby Murcer (Author), Glen Waggoner (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 20, 2008

A former Yankees great remembers his years in pinstripes and talks candidly about his courageous battle with brain cancer.

As he stepped to the plate at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day in 1966, Bobby Murcer carried with him the hopes and expectations of Yankees fans looking for the next Mickey Mantle.

Like Mantle, Murcer was a phenom from Oklahoma. Like Mantle, he came up to the majors as a shortstop, but was later converted to a centerfielder. And like Mantle, his first at-bat in Yankee Stadium was at the tender age of 19.

Bobby wasn't the Mick, but he became one of the most beloved Yankees of all time.

Yankee for Life is the story of Murcer's stellar career as both a player and as an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster. With self-effacing humor and down-home charm, he shares fascinating, illuminating, and never-before-told anecdotes about former teammates and bosses, including Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, Lou Piniella—and George Steinbrenner.

But no relationship was more significant and poignant than his friendship with Yankees captain Thurman Munson, who died in a plane crash in 1979. On the morning of Munson's funeral, Murcer delivered the eulogy for his friend in Ohio; he ended the day by driving in all five runs in an extra-inning 5-4 victory at Yankee Stadium to honor his captain's memory.

Following his career, Murcer became a revered figure in the Yankees broadcast booth. From the best seat in the House That Ruth Built, he has watched the latest generation of Yankee superstars—Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mariano Rivera—grow up.

No one is more qualified—or brave enough—to choose his own personal Pinstripe All-Star Team of the last 40 years.

Murcer is no stranger to courage. On Christmas Eve 2006, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Five days later, after surgery to remove it, he learned that the cancer was terminal. In an uplifting, honest, and even humorous exploration of his battle with illness, Murcer explains how the love of his wife and his family, a deep religious faith, and the passionate support of fans have seen him through his ordeal.

Bobby Murcer may not have become the next Mickey Mantle, but he became someone he always wanted to be—a Yankee for life.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Murcer may not be one of the most famous New York Yankees , but he comes across as one of the most likeable in this new memoir. Few young boys grow up to fulfill their childhood ambitions, but Murcer's one of the lucky ones, meeting his "lifelong dream" of signing with the Yankees at the age of 19 (1965 was his rookie year with the team). True to its title, the long-time New York player/broadcaster describes the day he was traded from the Yankees to the Giants in 1974 as a "nightmare," and how it "ripped his heart out" watching his beloved club win two World Series during his four-year absence from the team. None of Murcer's on-the-field stories are particularly notable, and most non-Yankee fans may roll their eyes at Murcer's somewhat overbearing passion for the team many love to hate. But the human side to the man shines through, especially when relating stories of his friend Thurman Munson's tragic death, and most importantly, his own battle with brain cancer. Murcer gives a glimpse into his struggle in the opening chapter before encapsulating what any family goes through in the book's closing pages. There are laughs sprinkled in as well, mostly concentrated in the chapter about Murcer's quirky broadcast partner, Phil Rizzuto ("WW" in the scorebook, in Rizzuto's mind, stands for "Wasn't Watching").
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“An inspiration.” (Newsday )

“What an incredible book. Bobby’s an amazingly courageous guy to go through all that and tell his story.” (David Cone, YES Network )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Edition edition (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061473413
• ISBN-13: 978-0061473418
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Now Playing Center Field Bobby Murcer!!! May 24, 2008

By Anthony Accordino VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

"Yankee For Life", the new 320 page autobiography by Bobby Murcer proves to be an entertaining look back on the baseball life of one time allstar and former Yankee Bobby Murcer. As Mickey Mantle's baseball career was winding down in the late sixties, a young lad from Oklahoma, Bobby Murcer was to be the next yankee star. Just like Mantle, he was from the same home state, and started his career at shortstop, and eventually found his way to centerfield. Bobby never lived up to the Mickey Mantle comparisons, but he became a star ball player on some of the weakest Yankee teams in history during the sixties and early seventies. For a young yankee fan during that time period, he was all we had, until the arrival of Thurman Munson. Although he never put up Hall Of Fame numbers, Bobby Murcer was a solid player who went on to become one of the most beloved Yankees in history. He even hit Four consecutive homers against the Cleveland Indians during a doubleheader in the early seventies. It pained him a great deal, in 1975, when the Yankees traded him to the San Francisco Giants for Bobby Bonds. That trade backfired on the yankees, as Bonds was gone after one season. Murcer spent the next several years with the Giants and Cubs of the National league, still making allstar teams, but never happy about being out of pinstripes. During the late seventies, the Chicago Cubs made Murcer available, and George Steinbrenner brought Bobby home to the Yankees to finish his playing career. He chronicles in detail, the first game after Thurman Munsons tragic death in 1979, in which he drove in all five runs against the Orioles, as he honored his best friend with a game that will live forever in Yankee history. He eneded his career as the most productive pinch hitter in baseball. His baseball career however, did not stop, when his playing days were over. Bobby Murcer made himself into one of the most respected baseball play by play announcers in baseball. He was and still is an Emmy award winning Yankee commentator who remains as popular as ever with the fans. On a serious note, Bobby was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006, and he goes into great detail about his battle with the disease, which continues to this very day. He makes no secret of his love for his family, friends and his fans. This book is written as only Bobby would allow it to be published, and that is a good and honest life story without the use of vulgarities. It is a book that you would let your children read, and not worry about unacceptable content. I've watched Bobby Murcer since I was a 9 year old Yankee fan in 1968, and I have followed him through his 40 year journey in baseball. He is a true gentlemen, and defines what class is all about. Bobby Murcer is still my favorite Yankee idol, and not because of his on field career, but because of his off field character and integrity, which makes him a role model for my own son. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to read a sports biography detailing the life and career of a Yankee legend.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant, Touching Celebration of A Great Life June 10, 2008

By Stephen J. Rosenbaum

Format:Hardcover

Bobby Murcer says he lives a Great Life.

He played baseball for his favorite team, married his high-school sweetheart and is loved and admired by millions of fans.

This is a great book that chronicles the many stages of Bobby's career: from high school, to Major Leaguer, to Announcer... and now... Bobby's biggest challenge yet, brain cancer.

You can't help but admire the Murcer family's courage (yes, his family plays a huge role in Bobby's journey), as they face a gigantic curveball, larger than any hook tossed by any major league hurler.

You'll also love Bobby's hilarious stories about life on the field and in the broadcast booth. Don't miss Bobby's eyebrow-raising pick for all-time Yankee All-Star team (you'll be surprised at who he picked and who he left off.)

My family has been a Bobby Murcer fan since his Toledo Mudhen days. But this book makes me view Bobby in a whole new light.. as a spiritual, family man courageously battling the most devastating of diseases.

Read it for the baseball. Read it for the humor. Read it for the inspiration.

Just make sure you read it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Story That Needed To Be Told July 16, 2008

By Mark Stone

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bobby Murcer begins the book with the shocking news he received on Christmas Eve 2006 that he had a brain tumor. He then tells his life story in an engaging "real-person" manner with just the right amount of detail.

There are occasional remarks reserved for his wife Kay, which adds another interesting perspective to Murcer's interesting career with the Yankees, Giants, Cubs, then Yankees again.

When Murcer goes into greater depth regarding the removal of his tumor and the extensive treatments for his brain cancer, it's as if the reader can hear him speaking. He never complains about the fatal hand he has been dealt, and closes the book on an upbeat note. A truly courageous man.