Interviewees
Interviewees: Maury Allen, Marty Appel, Ernie Banks, Bill Bergesch, Jim Bouton, Clete Boyer, Bob Boyle, Lou Brock, Bob Broeg, Ernie Broglio, Jim Brosnan, Bill Bruton, Jack Buck, Jim Bunning, Shirley Clurman, Jerry Coleman, Pat Conmy, Bob Costas, Roger Craig, Al Downing, Bing Devine, John Gregory Dunne, Mike Eisenbath, David Fine, Roy Firestone, Al Fleishman, Jake Gibbs, Buddy Gilbert, Bob Gibson (who was exceptionally gracious even though he was working on his own memoirs at the time), Bunch Greenwade, Mabel (Mrs. Tom) Greenwade, Angie Greenwade McCroskey, Dick Groat, Steve Hamilton, Solly Hemus, Tommy Henrich, Jerome Holtzman, Arlene (Mrs. Elston) Howard, Big Julie Isaacson, Gene Johnson, Leonard Koppett, Bruce Kornblatt, Phil Linz, Hector Lopez, Tim McCarver, Larry Merchant, Tom Metcalf, Pete Mikkelsen, Marvin Miller, Doug Minnis, Stan Musial, Billy Muffett, Buck O’Neil, Pedro Ramos, Bobby Richardson, Arthur Richman, Neal Russo, Ray Sadecki, Johnny Sain, Barney Schultz, Tom Seaver, Mike Shannon, Charlie Silvera, Curt Simmons, Ted Simmons, Bob Skinner, Mel Stottlemyre, Andy Strasberg, Ralph Terry, James Toomey, Joe Torre, Tom Tresh, Bob Uecker, Tom Weinberg, Harry (The Hat) Walker, Billy White. I tried to connect with as many players as possible. Some I missed out on because we could not coordinate schedules or because I was in their region when they were not. Only two important players were unwilling to talk: Tony Kubek, because, in his own words, it was the least happy season of his career—he was out with an injury for the World Series and had been slowed by injuries much of the season; and Curt Flood, who was told by his lawyers that talking with me might jeopardize a chance to make the story of his life into a movie. Mickey Mantle agreed to sit for an interview, but by the time I was ready to visit with him, he was in the Betty Ford clinic, and my deadline had passed. I want to acknowledge in addition, even though I have already listed him as an interviewee, the help of Maury Allen, who covered the Yankees for the New York Post and was an original journalistic Chipmunk; since he was with the team that year and I was not, his judgment was invaluable, and he proved helpful on this book, as on a previous one, far beyond the call of duty. That is true also of Bob Broeg and Jack Buck in St. Louis, both of whom were exceptionally generous and thoughtful in dealing with me.
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Acknowledgments
I WOULD LIKE TO acknowledge the help of Philip Roome, who did much of the travel arrangements for me; my editor, Doug Stumpf; Leslie Chang, Jacqueline Deval, Kathy Schneider, Amy Edelman, Leta Evanthes, Richard Aquan, Russ Lake, copy editor Randee Marullo, book designers Lilly Langotsky and Jo Ann Metsch, and jacket designer Bradford Foltz, all at Villard Books; Kate Lardner for her assistance; Carolyn Parqueth, who did transcriptions of tapes; Nick Scharlatt in New York, who assembled photocopies of old Yankee games; and Mike Eisenbath in St. Louis, who did the same with old Cardinal games; Milt Richman of the Yankees and Marty Hendin of the Cardinals; Phyllis Merhige of the American League and Katy Feeney of the National League; Jay Horwitz of the Mets; Chris Brush of Upper Deck; and Arthur Schack of the Players Association, all of whom were extremely helpful. I am also grateful to Wendy Selig-Prieb and Mary Burns of the Milwaukee Brewers; John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press; Rob Fleder and Dave Minget of Sports Illustrated; Thomas Craig of the National Baseball Library and Archive at the Baseball Hall of Fame; in St. Louis, Bob and Randy Costas, Richmond Bry, Lee Liberman, Barbara and Tom Eagleton, and Joe Ostremeier; and David Black, Bruce Blockley, Ken Starr, Robert Schaffer, Marty Garbus, Bob Solomon, and Bruce Plotkin.
Roger Maris looks at Babe Ruth’s plaque in center field at Yankee Stadium. His successful pursuit of Ruth’s single-season home-run record in 1961 found little favor among New York fans, who booed him and rooted instead for Mickey Mantle-to break the record. (UPl/Bettmann)
It was the summer of his discontent: Ralph Terry had been a mainstay of the Yankee pitching staff in the past and a World Series hero in 1962, but an injury to his shoulder and back in the spring ruined his 1964 season. He watched, frustrated that he could not contribute more and aware that the Yankees would trade him after the season. (National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, N. Y.)
Pete Mikkelsen hurt his arm in the minor leagues just as he was sure he was on his way out of baseball. That turned him involuntarily into a sinker-ball pitcher and helped him make the big-league club that spring.
(AP/Wide World Photos)
Bobby Richardson was probably the most underrated player on that team. A fine fielder and an exceptional clutch hitter, he got thirteen hits in the 1964 World Series. (National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, N. Y.)
The key to much of the Yankees’ success, their opponents thought, was their exceptional middle infield, with Tony Kubek (left) at short and Bobby Richardson at second. When injuries wore Kubek down in 1964, opponents thought the Yankees lost a critical part of their strength. (National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, N.Y.)
Phil Linz and Tom Tresh, as rookies in 1962, take some instruction from Frank Crosetti, the third-base coach. (AP/Wide World Photos)
The trade for Lou Brock in mid-June was the turning point of the season for the Cardinals. He gave them not only far more speed, but a new degree of aggressiveness. No player worked harder at the game, and none studied his job more closely than Brock. (Sam Onyon)
Curt Flood was, by 1964, probably the premier center fielder in baseball and a key player on the Cardinal team. His decision to fight a trade to Philadelphia started a legal-political process that changed the face and salary structure of baseball. (National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, N. Y.)
Dick Groat was a classic old pro who came over from the Pirates to anchor the Cardinal infield. He was slow afoot, but he had quick hands and a quick bat and was an exceptional hitter and a very smart player. (National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, N.Y.)
Curt Simmons, a shrewd veteran lefthander, was cut loose earlier on by the Phillies, even though it turned out he had several years of good pitching left. Had the Phillies stayed with him, they might have won the pennant. Instead, he was a crucial factor for the Cards down the stretch and took particular delight in tormenting his former teammates. (AP/Wide World Photos)
Bill White, the Cardinal first baseman. Thoughtful and judicious, he somewhat reluctantly left Hiram College and a possible career as a doctor for baseball because it offered immediate financial advantages. Eventually he became a broadcaster and a baseball executive. (The Sporting News)
This is The Look. Bob Gibson, on his piece of territory, brought intimidation to an ever higher level. He could throw tight to hitters, and he never talked to opposing hitters, lest his ability to dominate them be weakened by even the smallest show of humanity. (The Sporting News)
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