Damn Yankees

by Douglass Wallop

The classic baseball novel that inspired the hit broadway musical

Genres: Plays, Baseball, Fiction, Sports

Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

Reviews

[Steve R]

I read this 1955 novel in 1969 when I was just beginning my lifelong addiction to baseball. Based on a Broadway play and also presented in quite a good movie, the story worked quite well as a novel. Capturing both the Faust legend about the dangers of being granted one’s dearest wishes and the pain of the loyal fan of a team that is never all that good, it is by turns laugh-out-loud funny, poignantly sad and edge-of-your-seat suspenseful.

Remembered anecdotes, from more than a half century ago:

- Joe’s fervent pleas to hitters on his beloved Washington Senators (‘First in the country, last in the American League’) to ‘Don’t try to kill the ball: just hit a single through the middle!’
- The enticing Lola, the femme fatale who works for Mr. Applegate who, as the Big Man from Downstairs, offers Joe a chance he cannot refuse to be young again, to not be overweight, and to actually play for the Senators as they attempt to storm their way up the standings and displace the hated New York Yankees at the top of the standings.
- Applegate’s showing him a newspaper clipping with Joe in a Yankees uniform, explaining how he’d be traded in the off season to his hated nemesis. And, as the final salt in the wound, the fact that the Devil is a Yankees fan!
- The sudden change which occurs just as Joe is running back on a long fly ball, the catching of which could help his Senators win the pennant.

A truly delightful, imaginative and engaging story for all people who construct illusions of fantastical desires and particularly for baseball fans, who seem to have an overabundance of dreamers of this variety.

Highly recommended.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Hardy leaves his wife when he makes a deal with the smooth-talking Applegate, and there you have a home run of a story in the form of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, First Part.

The plot, though updated to the 20th century with a baseball setting, is simple, and the romance ingredient comes with the relationship Joe has with his wife – will he return to her? Just how strong is his love for her? More than baseball? More than the Washington Senators?

I do like the modern twist to the legendary German tale, and the movie does well with the plot and the music.

The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop was formed into a play and the 1958 movie with Ray Walston as Applegate. Side note: In fact, the major characters were played in the movie as in the Broadway play, with the exception of Tab Hunter, who played Joe.

⚪️Internet Archive.
🎥 Movie version.

[carl theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw the musical as a teenager, now can't wait to see it again. Book is hilarious, Applegate the devil,
Lola, Joe Boyd-Hardy, Rosco the rat, well known tale of deal with the devil to bring the Senators a
pennant.

Takes pot shots at the banality of TV, though this was written in 1954, good stuff.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn Yankees by Douglas Wallop is the book form of the Broadway musical comedy that shares the same name. The plot combines humor, love and baseball in the perfect marriage; contrary, I feel that the book lacks the captivating elements that the actors bring to life on stage. As a whole, I would recommend to see the musical.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Faust legend done as a baseball story damn Yankees is about a man who wants to play for his long losing team. The Washington Senators is granted youth, but realizes he’s given up more than he should filled with wonderful songs. The Gwen Vernon and Bob Fosse musical was a very big hit and also was a great movie

[Emily]

I read this book when I was a teenager because it was on my grandpa's bookshelf. It was about a middle-aged man who sells his soul to the devil to be a young, talented baseball player to help his favorite team, the Washington Senators win. It held my attention and it was an enjoyable read.

[TaschaBear]

Cute play! :] I love baseball.