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Book Review: The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty
by Daniel
Paulling
February 26, 2005
Book Review: “The Last Night of the Yankee
Dynasty”
By: Buster Olney
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 333
“Vivid, informed, and gracefully written. Like Olney’s
coverage of the Yankees for the New York Times, this is sportswriting
at its very best.” -David Halberstam
That quote about sums up this entire novel. Buster Olney, a writer
with ESPN.com, did splendid work writing about the Yankees with
several interesting sidenotes on players as well as Boss Steinbrenner
and Yankee coaches. He weaves his background story, the last night
of the Yankee dynasty, with these interesting little clips.
In the first chapter, Olney begins, as a fly on the wall, writing
about the pregame speech given by the Yankees’ trainer Gene
Monahan. He ties this in with a speech that Yankees’ closer
Mariano Rivera delivers, which many of his teammates questioned.
Chapter two covers the most important Yankee of them all: George
Steinbrenner. Olney delves deep into who George Steinbrenner is;
like that the Boss believes failure is eminent at all times. Next
is a biography of Steinbrenner followed by the final minutes before
the fateful Game 7.
The third chapter deals with Paul O’Neill, considered to be
one of the grittiest players in recent memory. Olney starts the
bottom of the first with Jeter’s strikeout, but moves to O’Neill’s
at bat. Here Olney disappears into a spiel about how O’Neill
learned from his father Chick O’Neill how to play baseball
the right way. The story continues to discuss how O’Neill angered
manager Lou Pinella so much that the Reds traded O’Neill to
the Yankees for Roberto Kelly. This move turned out to be brilliant
for then General Manager Gene Michael, as Olney explain in-depth
in his book.
Chapter four discusses then Yankee General Manager Gene Michael.
This is an interesting story of how Michael started at the bottom
rung of the baseball ladder (in the Pirates farm system) and moved
to one of the highest: the guy in charge of an entire baseball team.
Next, Olney tells how the rebuilding of the weak early ‘90s
Yankees turned into a dominant late ‘90s force. The next chapter
discusses Joe Torre at large. Olney starts with Clemens beginning
the bottom of the first and moves toward the media response of Clemens
throwing the bat at Piazza in the 2000 World Series. It begins with
Torre’s discussions with the media and then moves to how inspirational
Torre is to his team. Then Olney brings in players like Chad Curtis
and Ricky Ledee and explains how they were integral to the Yankees
success as well.
Chapter six begins with Luis Sojo, about how Sojo
was a major part of the Yankees because of his veteran experience.
Sojo then went to the Pittsburgh Pirates and says how they “operated
day to day with absolutely no expectation of success.” These
veteran players were major cogs in a major league team, and the
Yankees had the financial wherewithal to sign end of the rotation
starters and middle relievers who had played for many years. Olney
then writes about the economic disparity of small market teams and
then moves to how Sojo won the 2000 World Series for the Yankees.
Sojo would never play for another team, by choice.
Chapter seven is about Roger Clemens, both in the bottom of the
second and in his playing days as a Yankee. When Clemens joined
the team he was not the same dominator he once was, but a short
time in pinstripes changed that. Olney then talks about Clemens
workout regimen and Clemens’s career as a headhunter. Chapter
eight discusses Boomer Wells’s departure from the Yankees,
about how Boomer was a rambunctious soul who loved to go out and
party. Olney then moves to another Yankee lefty, Andy Pettitte.
The author then moves to David Cone and Mike Mussina, integral pitchers
for the Yankees.
Olney begins chapter nine writing about how old the Diamondbacks
were, how they had the necessity to win this game. He then moved
towards an aging star, but one on the Yankees: Bernie Williams.
The author discusses how Williams rose through the Yankee farm system
and almost signed with the Red Sox before becoming an integral part
of the Yankee outfield for years to come.
GM Brian Cashman is the main focus of chapter ten. Cashman was raised
through the Yankee front office and knew the business of working
for George Steinbrenner. The author describes how Cashman kept track
of all his work through with much care. And then Olney brings to
the forefront of how Steinbrenner controlled what Cashman did, like
acquiring busts Denny Neagle and Jose Canseco. The game was complete
through four innings, no runs on either side.
Chapter 11 is about former Yankee David Cone. Olney starts the chapter
in Coney’s living room during the series and then moves to
Coney in the Yankee clubhouse. During his tenure with the Yankees,
Cone would always be the man in the clubhouse. He would settle disputes
with ease and speak with the media in difficult situations. Chapter
twelve is an important one because it discusses the other teams
in the east. The first section is about the Orioles, and how they
almost have a chance to sign David Cone. Then the author moves to
the Red Sox and how they were serious competition for the Yankees
dominance.
Chapter thirteen begins with the top of the sixth inning where Alfonso
Soriano was leading off. It continues with a story about Soriano’s
joining the Yankees, followed by international players Livan Hernandez,
Hideo Nomo, Andy Morales, Hideki Irabu, and Orlando “El Duque”
Hernandez. Chapter fourteen moves to another fielder, Derek Jeter,
and fifteen is the first baseman, Tino Martinez.
Chapter 16 is a more somber one, with Darryl Strawberry being the
focus of it. Olney brilliantly describes Strawberry’s addictions
and talents, along with his dependence on the Yankees. The next
chapter deals with Rudy Giuliani and his importance to the Yankees.
In here, Olney carries the story to the importance of Yankee relief
pitching and how Mike Stanton was the only real arm Torre could
trust out of the bullpen to set up Mariano Rivera. He then moves
to the Yankee clubhouse where Boss Steinbrenner is furious over
Fox’s persistence to put a victory stage in the room, which
would surely jinx the team, according to Steinbrenner.
Chapter 18 describes the amount of suffering the Yankee players
due to the losses of their fathers, as well as the role that cancer
had on the Yankee staff. The next one leads to the building up of
Mariano Rivera being impossible to beat and the following one deals
with Chuck Knoblauch and Scott Brosius, two important cogs for the
Yankees in that infamous game.
The final chapter is the final moments of the game: the coming apart
of the Yankee ninth. Olney takes the reader inside the mound conversations
between Torre and his infield, as well as the thoughts of his infielders
in those final moments before the end of the Yankee dynasty.
I give this book 3 balls out of 4 for any Yankee fan because
of how in-depth Olney covers the Yankees. If you have just become
a Yankee fan, this is a definite read. If you aren’t a Yankee
fan and despise them, this book gets 2.5 balls.
Our Rating System is based on a four ball system as follows:
One Ball: Average. It has something to say but is nothing
special.
Two Balls: Something men usually have - also means its a
cut above average, and worth reading/owning.
Three balls: Stands out from its peers and is highly recommended.
Four Balls: More than just what two men have when hanging
out together, it means it is an exceptional book that truly earns
a walk - straight to the local book store to get a copy.
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