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When Shea Was Home: The Story of the 1975 Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Jets
Four teams, 175 games, 3,738,546 fans—one stadium. If 1975 wasn’t the most successful year in New York sports—and it wasn’t—then it was certainly one of the oddest. For that one crazy season, all four New York teams—the Mets, Jets, Yankees, and Giants—called Shea Stadium home.
When Shea was Home includes interviews with the stadium’s former head groundskeeper, the legendary Pete Flynn, as well as Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson and Ed Kranepool of the Mets, Giants owner John Mara, Rich Caster of the Jets, former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, who played that year at Shea for Grambling, and many more!
This well-written narrative includes information about the stadium, the teams, the players, how the teams coexisted, and how they didn't. When Shea was Home takes New York sports fans on a unique trip down memory lane, offering context on the national and local history and culture of the time. It is perfect for the avid New York sports aficionado—regardless of team allegiance!
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.
Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
When Shea was Home includes interviews with the stadium’s former head groundskeeper, the legendary Pete Flynn, as well as Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson and Ed Kranepool of the Mets, Giants owner John Mara, Rich Caster of the Jets, former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, who played that year at Shea for Grambling, and many more!
This well-written narrative includes information about the stadium, the teams, the players, how the teams coexisted, and how they didn't. When Shea was Home takes New York sports fans on a unique trip down memory lane, offering context on the national and local history and culture of the time. It is perfect for the avid New York sports aficionado—regardless of team allegiance!
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.
Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
20 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2016
The major theme of this somewhat rambling and disjointed book is that all four of the named teams played their 1975 home schedules in Shea Stadium. The author gives background on how that came to pass, and extra information on what was going on with each of the teams generally around that time. Also, apparently to fill space, he also adds in current events having nothing to do with the main topic, and extensive comments about other eras and players. It's an interesting story, but a little thinly researched in that it relies heavily on public information and in-depth interviews with only a few major participants in the events. Also, the disorganization and poor editing were distracting. Still, it was fun to recall that turbulent time in New York.
February 16, 2018
Learned a lot I didn’t know about Shea. Very cool for ny sports fan
December 17, 2019
This book tells the story of Shea Stadium in 1975, when the stadium was shared by four professional teams - the first and only time in history when four such teams shared a stadium in one year. The sharing of the stadium by the Jets, Mets, Yankees and Giants created unique problems.
This book was written decades after 1975, at a time when it was really too late to try to tell this story. The author interviewed some of the players from that year. He reported that field conditions were difficult resulting from constant use. The teams had to share locker rooms. The Jets first home game did not happen until after the Mets' season was over (this was not new in 1975). There are only so many ways to say those things. The rest of the book was taken up with stories of news items that happened around the country in 1975, sports stories from around New York that had nothing to do with Shea Stadium and items from Shea Stadium's history, including a Beatles concert in the 60's and a Police concert in the 80's. Had an author undertaken this project in 1975, there would have been more to tell about the 1975 four team story.
There was a section describing how each team came to use Shea, including the story of how the Giants and Yankees were displaced by construction at Yankee Stadium. Other interesting sections included the stories of the original construction of and the ultimate end of Shea Stadium.
The book was interesting and well written. The idea was unique and historically significant. But the project suffered from the passage of time since 1975.
This book was written decades after 1975, at a time when it was really too late to try to tell this story. The author interviewed some of the players from that year. He reported that field conditions were difficult resulting from constant use. The teams had to share locker rooms. The Jets first home game did not happen until after the Mets' season was over (this was not new in 1975). There are only so many ways to say those things. The rest of the book was taken up with stories of news items that happened around the country in 1975, sports stories from around New York that had nothing to do with Shea Stadium and items from Shea Stadium's history, including a Beatles concert in the 60's and a Police concert in the 80's. Had an author undertaken this project in 1975, there would have been more to tell about the 1975 four team story.
There was a section describing how each team came to use Shea, including the story of how the Giants and Yankees were displaced by construction at Yankee Stadium. Other interesting sections included the stories of the original construction of and the ultimate end of Shea Stadium.
The book was interesting and well written. The idea was unique and historically significant. But the project suffered from the passage of time since 1975.
March 26, 2023
This book was a significant disappointment. First, the actual title should be "The History of and Turf Conditions at Shea Stadium in 1975 and a Lot of Other Things That are Lightly Touched Upon about New York City in 1975."
That history and those turf conditions seemed to be the only consistent themes that this reader could find in this book. If one is expecting--like I was--to see some significant information and background on the 1977 Giants, Jet, Mets and Yankees, save yourself the trouble and skip this book. The read itself is only 156 pages between the start of the first and the end of the seventh and final chapter.
So, what is this book about? Mostly Shea Stadium, mostly the turf conditions, and then tidbits about: the 1977 Giants, Mets, Jets, and Yankees; the bankruptcy of New York City; pop culture related to New York City at the time; the 1977 Islanders, Rangers, Sets, and Cosmos; what happened to many of these entities/people after 1977. I also learned that, as was mentioned in another review, that former Jets tight end Rich Caster loved playing for the Houston Oilers in the late 1970's.
Finally, pictures just seemed to pop up randomly throughout the book, and didn't really correlate to the section where they were placed. For example, in a section about the 1977 Mets, there was a full-page photo of then-Yankees manager Bill Virdon, resplendent in the pinstripe uniform.
That history and those turf conditions seemed to be the only consistent themes that this reader could find in this book. If one is expecting--like I was--to see some significant information and background on the 1977 Giants, Jet, Mets and Yankees, save yourself the trouble and skip this book. The read itself is only 156 pages between the start of the first and the end of the seventh and final chapter.
So, what is this book about? Mostly Shea Stadium, mostly the turf conditions, and then tidbits about: the 1977 Giants, Mets, Jets, and Yankees; the bankruptcy of New York City; pop culture related to New York City at the time; the 1977 Islanders, Rangers, Sets, and Cosmos; what happened to many of these entities/people after 1977. I also learned that, as was mentioned in another review, that former Jets tight end Rich Caster loved playing for the Houston Oilers in the late 1970's.
Finally, pictures just seemed to pop up randomly throughout the book, and didn't really correlate to the section where they were placed. For example, in a section about the 1977 Mets, there was a full-page photo of then-Yankees manager Bill Virdon, resplendent in the pinstripe uniform.
June 24, 2024
Great book as a Mets fan in particular and a New Yorker in general. I have fond memories of going to Shea Stadium as a kid and it was great to read about when all of New York's baseball and football teams called that stadium home. Great book indeed!
May 15, 2020
Enjoyed a lot of this history, however book seemed at times to be very jumpy. Overall an easy read
November 14, 2022
SHEA!
Good book.
Mr Topel does paint a nice picture of the history of Shea. Its a wonder it lasted as long as it did. It's also a wonder it survived after the 75' season.
Good book.
Mr Topel does paint a nice picture of the history of Shea. Its a wonder it lasted as long as it did. It's also a wonder it survived after the 75' season.
January 15, 2023
1975 Memories of Shea Stadium
Excellent documentary of a season which four teams had to share the same ball park. I had forgotten that New York City was broke back then.
Excellent documentary of a season which four teams had to share the same ball park. I had forgotten that New York City was broke back then.
August 2, 2023
A quick and interesting read if Shea Stadium means anything to you.
May 7, 2016
First of all, I love the Mets and have been a fan for over 40 years. I was really looking forward to some wacky stories and tidbits from a unique year in Shea Stadium history. Instead the author spends a little time on each of the team's 1975 and spends the rest of the time on background. This book is about 1975, so why am I hearing about the 86 Mets or Richard Caster's feeling about the Houston Oilers? I expected more Pete Flynn groundskeeping stories and other oddities.
July 5, 2016
This book sounded really interesting. I am not a huge fan of the Mets. However, I am a fan of sports history and I was intrigued. However, the structure of this book made it really hard to follow and enjoy. It felt like a series of magazine articles rather than a cohesive book. As such, there is a lot of repetition. It also bounces through time even though the focus of the book is a single year. There are a few interesting facts and moments in the book. I just expected more.
July 31, 2016
This is a very fun book for New York sports fans, especially those of us who were alive in 1975 (I was a senior in high school and freshman in college that year). I remember some of it well and it was a trip down memory lane. It was also great to hear some stories about favorite players and even players I didn't really follow much.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews