How did Reggie Jackson go from superstar to icon? Why did Joe DiMaggio's nickname change from "Deadpan Joe" to "Joltin' Joe"? How did Seinfeld affect public perception of George Steinbrenner? The New York Yankees' dominance on the baseball diamond has been lauded, analyzed and chronicled. Yet the team's broader impact on popular culture has been largely overlooked--until now. From Ruth's called shot to the Reggie! candy bar, this collection of new essays offers untold histories, new interpretations and fresh analyses of baseball's most successful franchise. Contributors explore the Yankee mystique in film, television, theater, music and advertising.

Not for baseball fans only, this enlightening, entertaining exploration of Yankee history examines how design theory and corporatism combined to create the world’s most famous baseball franchise, how the managers and star players were outliers who reflected philosophical movements—including existentialism, Gnosticism, and Machiavellianism—and how baseball, among other leisure pursuits, creates a stronger, more civil society. Throughout the book, Dr Klink points out the distinction between looking and seeing by exploring things spectators look at without really seeing or understanding their meaning and impact—the pinstripe uniforms, the stadium’s façade, even the Yankee baseball cap on a guy drinking a beer at a bar. The book explores all aspects of the culture surrounding the New York Yankees, from the stadium to the players and the larger community. It will be of interest to Yankees fans and non-fans alike.

How did Reggie Jackson go from superstar to icon? Why did Joe DiMaggio's nickname change from "Deadpan Joe" to "Joltin' Joe"? How did Seinfeld affect public perception of George Steinbrenner? The New York Yankees' dominance on the baseball diamond has been lauded, analyzed and chronicled. Yet the team's broader impact on popular culture has been largely overlooked--until now. From Ruth's called shot to the Reggie! candy bar, this collection of new essays offers untold histories, new interpretations and fresh analyses of baseball's most successful franchise. Contributors explore the Yankee mystique in film, television, theater, music and advertising.

Bringing fresh perspectives to the team that has brought joy, triumph and even a miracle to New York City, this collection of new essays examines portrayals of the Mets in film, television, advertising and other media. Contributors cover little-known aspects of Mets history that even die-hard fans may not know. Topics include the popularity of Rheingold's advertising in the 1950s and 1960s, Bob Murphy's broadcasting career before joining the Mets' announcing team in 1962, Mr. Met's rivalry with the Phillie Phanatic, Dave Kingman's icon status, the pitching staff's unsung performance after the 1969 World Series victory, and Joan Payson's world-renowned art collection and philanthropy.

Whether loved or reviled, the New York Yankees have had an impact on American culture that extends well beyond baseball. Since the early twentieth century, movies, novels, memoirs, pop songs, and even TV sitcoms have either dealt directly with the Bronx club and its star players or incorporated key elements of Yankee iconography. In Pinstripe Nation, Will Bishop explores the myriad of ways in which the Yankees and their successes (or spectacular failures) became interwoven with the nation's larger cultural narrative. In 1920, with their acquisition of Babe Ruth, the Yankees rose to prominence. With his power-hitting style attracting legions of new fans, the "Great Bambino" became a national hero of the Roaring Twenties. In contrast to Ruth's flamboyance, his less flashy successors Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio captured the spirit of striving and courage that carried America through the Depression and WWII years. The Pride of the Yankees, a popular movie celebrating Gehrig's career, and the Hemingway novella The Old Man and the Sea, whose protagonist reveres DiMaggio, typified the trend. Mirroring the nation's postwar swagger and confidence, the club of the Mickey Mantle-era remained hugely popular, but "Yankee hating" set in as well. Novels like Mark Harris's The Southpaw and Douglas Wallop's The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant signified a widespread resentment of the team's outsized dominance. Amid the national turmoil of the 1960s, the Yankees also went into decline. In the following decades, as player salaries soared and team infighting grabbed headlines, the once-glowing portrayals of the team gave way to tell-all books like Ball Four and The Bronx Zoo. Yet, as this informative and entertaining book amply shows, the Yankees have, through all their ups and downs, retained a hold on the American imagination unmatched by any other sports franchise. -- Provided by publisher.

Details events leading to the 1927 World Series, when the New York Yankees, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Waite Hoyt, became baseball's best team ever. Draws on interviews with everyone connected to the team, from players and management to batboys, and relates stories concerning players' personalities, skills, and hijinks on and off the field. Includes 1927 statistics and biographical sketches of management, players, and staff, plus bandw photos. Paper edition (unseen), $13.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Bringing fresh perspectives to the team that has brought joy, triumph and even a miracle to New York City, this collection of new essays examines portrayals of the Mets in film, television, advertising and other media. Contributors cover little-known aspects of Mets history that even die-hard fans may not know. Topics include the popularity of Rheingold's advertising in the 1950s and 1960s, Bob Murphy's broadcasting career before joining the Mets' announcing team in 1962, Mr. Met's rivalry with the Phillie Phanatic, Dave Kingman's icon status, the pitching staff's unsung performance after the 1969 World Series victory, and Joan Payson's world-renowned art collection and philanthropy.