Pride of October: What It Was to Be Young and a Yankee

by Bill Madden

Book Overview

Legendary Yankees past and present sit down with award-winning columnist Bill Madden to offer a captivating portrait of what it's like to play for the Bronx Bombers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044652932X
• ISBN13: 9780446529327
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

homerun

I think this is the best book that I ever read. I couldn't put this book down. This is a good book for die hard Yankee fans or just people who love baseball. Bill madden goes out to find players from past Yankee seasons. This is a good book I recommend this book for all baseball fans.

A Chane To "Talk" To Your Yankee Heroes

As a Yankee fan, did you ever wish you could just sit down with your heroes and ask them some interesting questions about themselves and their time with the Yankees? Well, in his book, Pride of October: What It Was Like To Be Young And A Yankee, Bill Madden makes our wishes come true. In a book that's as entertaining as the players and team it covers, Madden brings back so many memories of our past heroes.For me, the book really hit home, when Madden sat down and talked with Bobby Murcer, who was a hero of mine as a youngster. In that chapter, Madden, through Murcer's words, tells the story of how disappointed Bobby was when he was traded from the Yankees after the 1974 season. When I read the passages, it brought me back to when I was fourteen years old and was crushed when I found out my favorite player was traded. Now, almost thirty years later, I realized Murcer was as devastated as I was.Through Murcer, Lou Piniella, and Reggie Jackson, Madden also captures the very emotional days after the tragic death of Thurman Munson. Yankee fans who remember those sad days of August 1979, will have the strong emotions brought back when they read the words of Munson's former mates.The book has many interesting tidbits about some very famous Yankees. For example, when talking to Phil Rizzuto, Madden, explains to us why Phil was and still is so scared of lightning. Yankee fans fondly recall how the "Scooter" would "bolt" from the booth as soon as he saw lightning. Well, when you read the book you'll find out why. You will also read how the events of September 11th, affected Phil's life.An early chapter in the book deals with former Yankee pitcher, Marius Russo. Though I've been a die hard fan for over thirty years, I frankly never heard of Russo. Madden's chapter on Russo was special because Russo was a teammate of Lou Gehrig and the former Yankee pitcher tells how sad it was to see Gehrig suffer with ALS.As a Yankee fan since 1967, I not only enjoyed the book, but also appreciated the fact that Bill Madden gave me a chance to "talk" to my heroes.

A Grand Slam

I've just finished reading Bill Madden's Pride of October. I couldn't put it down. When it is all said and done, this may be the best book on the Yankees--ever. This is a refreshing departure from typical baseball books, which are seldom more than protracted research papers. Madden visits Don Mattingly at his horse farm in Indiana, takes a tour with Whitey Ford of Whitey's old neighborhood in Queens, spends several days in South Carolina with Bobby Richardson, and finds the oldest living Yankee, Marius Russo, in Fort Myers, Florida (the Yankees didn't even know where he was!). Thanks, Mr. Madden, for the most honest, compelling and entertaining portrait of Yankee players I've ever read.

one of the best n.y. yankee books from one who knows

a great perspective on a great american franchise, the new york yankees are always going to be part of our heritage.bill madden does what few others can do,he writes from real life encounters with some of our great heroes.a hard book to put down,easy to read and very enjoyable with real life stories and plenty of humor.i recommend this book by bill madden highly.

Glory of Their Times - Yankee version

This is a wonderful journey back through 7 decades of the Yankees, recalling memorable events through the eyes of players who were there - and who always share more with the passage of years. Madden's selection of players was perfect - people who were 'young and Yankees,' - and people who could tell a story. I read this out of sequence, jumping from one to another, much as Madden's travel across the country led him to interesting hometowns. My favorites were Tommy Byrne, Marius Russo and Ralph Houk, with special affection for Bobby Richardson, Bobby Murcer and Ron Blomberg. Of all the Yankee books out this year for the 100th anniversary, this one may prove to be the most fun.