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DiMag & Mick: Sibling Rivals, Yankee Blood Brothers
In what Rolling Stone called "an epic The Natural meets The Rookie buddy drama," DiMag & Mick presents American pop cultural legends Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle together in 1951 as an aging, ailing Joltin' Joe prepares to leave the superstar stage of New York City while The Mick struggles stepping into the hero's cleats at Yankee Stadium -- so raise the curtain on Broadway! "A dream of a book..." -- Chicago Tribune
DiMag & Mick is the critically-acclaimed portrait of the two baseball stars by the author whose best-selling Mickey American's Prodigal Son has been hailed by The New York Times as the definitive biography of the Yankee switch-hitting slugging icon. Historian Tony Castro, who is also the author of the landmark dual biography Gehrig & The The Friendship and The Feud , magnificently paints Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in the pivotal setting of 1951: DiMaggio's farewell season and Mantle's rookie year. The book brings them alive as the old and young exemplars of what was a more confident, masterful age not only in baseball but in the country where they were held up as cultural heroes over two generations, symbolic of an America celebrating its recent triumph over Nazism and ever-curious about the new age of color television, rocket ships, and technology.
DiMag & Mick is also the story of fathers and sons, rebels and heroes, and reveals the rite of passage of two men who would go down in baseball immortality - DiMaggio as he reluctantly prepares to leave the spotlight of adoration and hero-worship for glitzy world of Marilyn Monroe's exploding Hollywood celebrity, and Mantle in his awkward attempt to leave his country roots of Dust Bowl Oklahoma for the big city exposure and expectations of greatness being placed on him. Yankee legend and glory holds a special magic all its own, and Castro examines the heart and soul of that mystique, especially the bond of the players themselves and how that came to breed and spread the perception that there was any animosity between DiMaggio and Mantle - two polarizing personalities who drove many teammates away from one and galvanized their friendship with the other.
DiMag & Mick is the critically-acclaimed portrait of the two baseball stars by the author whose best-selling Mickey American's Prodigal Son has been hailed by The New York Times as the definitive biography of the Yankee switch-hitting slugging icon. Historian Tony Castro, who is also the author of the landmark dual biography Gehrig & The The Friendship and The Feud , magnificently paints Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle in the pivotal setting of 1951: DiMaggio's farewell season and Mantle's rookie year. The book brings them alive as the old and young exemplars of what was a more confident, masterful age not only in baseball but in the country where they were held up as cultural heroes over two generations, symbolic of an America celebrating its recent triumph over Nazism and ever-curious about the new age of color television, rocket ships, and technology.
DiMag & Mick is also the story of fathers and sons, rebels and heroes, and reveals the rite of passage of two men who would go down in baseball immortality - DiMaggio as he reluctantly prepares to leave the spotlight of adoration and hero-worship for glitzy world of Marilyn Monroe's exploding Hollywood celebrity, and Mantle in his awkward attempt to leave his country roots of Dust Bowl Oklahoma for the big city exposure and expectations of greatness being placed on him. Yankee legend and glory holds a special magic all its own, and Castro examines the heart and soul of that mystique, especially the bond of the players themselves and how that came to breed and spread the perception that there was any animosity between DiMaggio and Mantle - two polarizing personalities who drove many teammates away from one and galvanized their friendship with the other.
- GenresBaseball
296 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2016
5 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Tony Castro
9 books24 followersTONY CASTRO is a Harvard and Baylor University-educated historian, Napoleon Bonaparte scholar and the author of the landmark civil rights history "Chicano Power," which Publishers Weekly acclaimed as “brilliant… a valuable contribution to the understanding of our time.”
Tony's latest book, "The Book of Marilyn," is a "thriller about the hunt for Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary—holding secrets that could rewrite history, topple power, and cost lives. Some truths are too dangerous to survive."
From its Amazon.com listing:
HOLLYWOOD’S GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL • Late one fateful night in 1978, Los Angeles prize-winning journalist Alex De La Cruz finds himself face-to-face with the story of a lifetime. Standing on his doorstep is Josie Clémenceau, a mysterious middle-aged woman whose timeless beauty evokes the golden age of Hollywood—but her eyes speak of shadows and secrets long buried. In her hands is a discovery that could rewrite history: Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary.
“Blockbuster mastery at its best… A gleefully explosive novel impossible to put down.” — LAMonthly.org
“An ingenious, pulse-quickening Hollywood-political suspense thriller.” — The Angeleno
What begins as a memoir of a movie star’s dazzling life quickly takes a darker turn. Hidden within the diary’s pages are revelations that shatter the mythos of America’s past. Marilyn Monroe, it turns out, had unwittingly stumbled upon a web of conspiracy tying the Mafia, anti-Castro operatives, and rogue CIA agents to one of the 20th century’s most infamous events: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before she could reveal what she knew, Marilyn was silenced.
Now, Alex and Josie are plunged into a high-stakes race to uncover the truth. But powerful forces—spanning the worlds of politics, organized crime, and Hollywood’s elite—will stop at nothing to keep the diary’s secrets buried. What begins as an investigation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse, where every step closer to the truth puts Alex and Josie in greater peril.
As the lines between past and present blur, Alex discovers that Josie’s connection to Marilyn Monroe might be far deeper—and more dangerous—than she’s revealed. The diary isn’t just a link to history; it’s a ticking time bomb that could expose decades of corruption and deceit.
With whip-smart dialogue, relentless suspense, and a plot that unfurls like a tightly wound thriller, The Book of Marilyn is more than a conspiracy novel—it’s a brilliant reinvention of the genre. Part Hollywood noir, part political intrigue, and wholly captivating, this is a heart-pounding tale of secrets, power, and the unyielding search for truth.
Get ready for a novel that will leave you breathless until its final, unforgettable twist.
As a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, Tony studied under Homeric scholar and translator Robert Fitzgerald, Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, and French history scholar Laurence Wylie. While at Harvard, he was a regular lecturer at the JFK Institute of Politics.
He is also a popular public speaker known for his wit and humor. He most recently lectured at his alma mater, Baylor University, on The Religion of Sports: From Michelangelo to Derek Jeter.
Tony lives in Los Angeles with his wife Renee LaSalle and Jeter, their black Labrador retriever. Their two grown sons, Trey and Ryan, and their families also reside in Southern California.
Tony's latest book, "The Book of Marilyn," is a "thriller about the hunt for Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary—holding secrets that could rewrite history, topple power, and cost lives. Some truths are too dangerous to survive."
From its Amazon.com listing:
HOLLYWOOD’S GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL • Late one fateful night in 1978, Los Angeles prize-winning journalist Alex De La Cruz finds himself face-to-face with the story of a lifetime. Standing on his doorstep is Josie Clémenceau, a mysterious middle-aged woman whose timeless beauty evokes the golden age of Hollywood—but her eyes speak of shadows and secrets long buried. In her hands is a discovery that could rewrite history: Marilyn Monroe’s lost diary.
“Blockbuster mastery at its best… A gleefully explosive novel impossible to put down.” — LAMonthly.org
“An ingenious, pulse-quickening Hollywood-political suspense thriller.” — The Angeleno
What begins as a memoir of a movie star’s dazzling life quickly takes a darker turn. Hidden within the diary’s pages are revelations that shatter the mythos of America’s past. Marilyn Monroe, it turns out, had unwittingly stumbled upon a web of conspiracy tying the Mafia, anti-Castro operatives, and rogue CIA agents to one of the 20th century’s most infamous events: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Before she could reveal what she knew, Marilyn was silenced.
Now, Alex and Josie are plunged into a high-stakes race to uncover the truth. But powerful forces—spanning the worlds of politics, organized crime, and Hollywood’s elite—will stop at nothing to keep the diary’s secrets buried. What begins as an investigation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse, where every step closer to the truth puts Alex and Josie in greater peril.
As the lines between past and present blur, Alex discovers that Josie’s connection to Marilyn Monroe might be far deeper—and more dangerous—than she’s revealed. The diary isn’t just a link to history; it’s a ticking time bomb that could expose decades of corruption and deceit.
With whip-smart dialogue, relentless suspense, and a plot that unfurls like a tightly wound thriller, The Book of Marilyn is more than a conspiracy novel—it’s a brilliant reinvention of the genre. Part Hollywood noir, part political intrigue, and wholly captivating, this is a heart-pounding tale of secrets, power, and the unyielding search for truth.
Get ready for a novel that will leave you breathless until its final, unforgettable twist.
As a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, Tony studied under Homeric scholar and translator Robert Fitzgerald, Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, and French history scholar Laurence Wylie. While at Harvard, he was a regular lecturer at the JFK Institute of Politics.
He is also a popular public speaker known for his wit and humor. He most recently lectured at his alma mater, Baylor University, on The Religion of Sports: From Michelangelo to Derek Jeter.
Tony lives in Los Angeles with his wife Renee LaSalle and Jeter, their black Labrador retriever. Their two grown sons, Trey and Ryan, and their families also reside in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 2, 2022
Another enjoyable read. Not much new here, though, because I read Maris/Mantle dual bio before this one, which was published first. Was hoping to get some insight on Dimaggio, but he remains unknowable.
October 15, 2022
Interesting read but mostly about Mantle...not a prob for me as I am a huge fan. Most of the info on Mantle was in Castro's other books. Would have liked more about DiMaggio...guess I will need to read separate book about him.
March 15, 2016
I thought the only love story, if any, I'd find in this extremely well-crafted book was the Marilyn Monroe-Joe DiMaggio romance that is standard fare in any book about The Yankee Clipper.
Imagine my surprise to discover the touching account of Mickey Mantle and his first love, an actress named Holly Brooke. She is mentioned in almost every book ever written about Mantle but only in passing. In 'DiMag & Mick', though, Holly Brooke is a major part of the story.
Author Tony Castro apparently tracked her down, and she is a treasure. She is an aging Broadway princess who lives on the Upper East Side, and her reminiscence and wit make for a remarkable story on its own.
She helps bring Mantle's rookie year alive, having spent much of it with him, recounting her days with the young star, even in Kansas City when he was sent down to the minors in mid-season, and then there with him in his return, and his number change... going from 6 to 7 and why he did it.
Holly Brooke also helps fill in the long missing relationship and friendship -- yes, there was a friendship -- between DiMaggio and Mantle. How often have we heard that they didn't speak until October 1951 in Game 2 of the Yankees' World Series with the Giants when Mickey tore a knee slipping in the outfield?
Just not true!
And it's not just the writer saying this. There's a transcript of a CBS radio audio as the Yankees head off to opening day in Washington, and there's Mantle and DiMaggio bantering back and forth for several minutes -- well before the season ever really began.
Get ready for more surprises. It's a great read that brings DiMaggio and Mantle alive again in 1951, Joe's final season, Mick's rookie year -- and it's magical and it adds to their immortality.
Imagine my surprise to discover the touching account of Mickey Mantle and his first love, an actress named Holly Brooke. She is mentioned in almost every book ever written about Mantle but only in passing. In 'DiMag & Mick', though, Holly Brooke is a major part of the story.
Author Tony Castro apparently tracked her down, and she is a treasure. She is an aging Broadway princess who lives on the Upper East Side, and her reminiscence and wit make for a remarkable story on its own.
She helps bring Mantle's rookie year alive, having spent much of it with him, recounting her days with the young star, even in Kansas City when he was sent down to the minors in mid-season, and then there with him in his return, and his number change... going from 6 to 7 and why he did it.
Holly Brooke also helps fill in the long missing relationship and friendship -- yes, there was a friendship -- between DiMaggio and Mantle. How often have we heard that they didn't speak until October 1951 in Game 2 of the Yankees' World Series with the Giants when Mickey tore a knee slipping in the outfield?
Just not true!
And it's not just the writer saying this. There's a transcript of a CBS radio audio as the Yankees head off to opening day in Washington, and there's Mantle and DiMaggio bantering back and forth for several minutes -- well before the season ever really began.
Get ready for more surprises. It's a great read that brings DiMaggio and Mantle alive again in 1951, Joe's final season, Mick's rookie year -- and it's magical and it adds to their immortality.
August 22, 2016
DiMaggio and Mick
Great possibility for a story about two Yankee greats. Castro is not only pop historian but writer who repeats story with no support for its invalidity. Plus story just ends
Great possibility for a story about two Yankee greats. Castro is not only pop historian but writer who repeats story with no support for its invalidity. Plus story just ends
May 12, 2016
Interesting book about DiMaggio and Mantle. Corrected erroneous articles that they did not get along.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews