Pride and Pinstripes: The Yankees, Mets, and Surviving Life's Challenges

by Mel Stottlemyre and John Harper

Book Overview

Long considered one of the most underappreciated Yankee greats, Mel Stottlemyre was only 22 in 1964 when he got signed to the Yankees, and quickly became one of their star pitchers-pitching in the World Series in 1964, his first year out. After retiring in 1974, he went on to work with the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, and Houston Astros, and finally the New York Yankees in 1996, until his retirement in 2005. Stottlemyre's sons Todd and Mel, Jr...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061174084
• ISBN13: 9780061174087
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Class Act

I was of prime baseball-following age during the span of Mel's career, when the Yanks slipped into the infamous "Horace Clarke Era". Mel Stottlemyre was a beacon of light during a dismal span, not only on the field but by the genuionous and humility he should off of it. For those not fortunate like me to have seen Mel in person, I am glad they now have the opportunity to become acquainted with this individual. One of the highlights of my baseball watching days occurred on 7/24/66. Somehow we obtained box seats in the first row right behind the plate (for $3.50 each, no kidding). Mel lost 20 that year and expains how Chicken Colonel Turner had messed with him in spring training. But he really had it that day, shutting down Cal. in the first game 9-1. And the Mick hit the first HR I ever saw him hit in person. Mel's first two years were superb, when he had that fantastic defense of Boyer, Kubek and Richardson behind him. If only his career had occured one decade earlier. He would have been the righthanded Whitey Ford. Mel, you are one class act!

MEL IS SWELL

PRIDE AND PINSTRIPES IS ABOUT THE LIFE AND CAREER OF FORMER YANKEE GREAT MEL STOTTLEMYRE. MEL OFFERS THE READER ALOT IN THIS WELL WRITTEN AND INTERESTING BOOK. FROM HIS LIFE AS A YANKEE PITCHER, DEATH OF HIS YOUNG SON, CAREER WITH THE METS AND YANKEES AS A PITCHING COACH TO HIS LIFE THREATENING ORDEAL WITH CANCER HE KEPT THIS READER TOTALLY RIVOTED TO THIS GREAT BOOK. MEL WAS A GREAT PITCHER AND DESERVES TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME. I ALSO ENJOYED HIS TIMES WITH DWIGHT GOODEN, JOE TORRE AND THE BOSS. AND AN ADDED BONUS IS HIS OPINION OF THE BEST STARTERS AND RELIEFERS HE HAS COACHED OVER THE YEARS WHICH IS AT THE VERY END OF THIS MUST READ FOR ALL BASEBALL FANS. OVERALL A GREAT CHOICE TO READ.

Wonderful Baseball Book

A great read for any baseball fan and especially true-blue Yankees fans. Mel's remembrances of the great pitchers he's coached and his relationship with George Steinbrenner were especially interesting. I do wish Mel had written more about his pitching career with the Yankees. He had some great years and great games that I wish he'd told us more about. He also got to play with some of the greatest Yankees of all time. Mel had the misfortune of joining the Yankees just when they started declining, but he still had a great career. I'll always remember skipping junior high school (with my parents' permission!) to watch Mel on TV in the 1964 World Series. Thanks for the memories and thanks for the book, Mel. You're a Hall of Famer in my book.

Yankees all the Way

A great book with rich history about a time of trouble for the Yankees. Easy smooth reading that keeps you involved with the story. A must read for any Yankee fan or any true baseball fan.

Stott Rocks

This is a super baseball book. I have always been a big Mel Stottlemeyer fan. He was the last of the old Yankees from the 1964 pennant winner, and had he played with better teams after that first great rookie season gawd only knows how many games Mel would have won. It deals with his playing and coaching days and the quack medical treatments he received from the then Yankee team physician. I only wish he would have devoted a lot more pages to the years between 65-and 1972 and some of the great games he pitched--the 1-0 two hitter versus AL MVP Vida Blue and Oakland, the 1969 and 1970 All Star Game. Not enough about your playing days Mel during the Horace Clarke/Jake Gibbs/Ron Bloomberg era is my only criticicism. All in all, a super book.