Dynasty: The New York Yankees 1949-1964

by Peter Golenbock

No team dominated baseball for a longer period than the New York Yankees did from 1949 to 1964. During that era, the Bronx Bombers won an astonishing 14 American League pennants and nine World Series championships, led by such greats as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Roger Maris. Dynasty is the story of that incredible ball club. Bestselling author Peter Golenbock gives a year-by-year account of this unforgettable team through interviews with players, managers, and coaches. All of the Yankees' great moments and accomplishments are covered in depth, including their record five consecutive World Championships (1949-53), Don Larsen's historic perfect game in the 1956 World Series, the 1960 World Series loss to the Pirates on Bill Mazeroski's famous home run, manager Casey Stengel's controversial firing after that series, Maris and Mantle's chase of Babe Ruth's home-run record in 1961, and the end of the dynasty following the 1964 World Series. First published in 1975, Dynasty is a classic look at baseball's greatest team. Peter Golenbock (www.golenbockbooks.com) has written some of the classics of sports literature, including five New York Times bestsellers. Some of his best-known books include An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers (also by Contemporary Books) and Wild, High, and Tight, his revealing biography of Yankees manager Billy Martin. He has been a frequent guest on many top television shows, including A&E's Biography, ESPN's 50 Greatest Athletes, and Larry King Live. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

568 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Golenbock grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and in 1963 graduated St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Connecticut. His heroes were Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. One day in the local library he discovered the book, The New York Yankees: An Informal History by Frank Graham ( G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1943) and it made a strong impression on him.''

Golenbock graduated from Dartmouth College in 1967 and the New York University School of Law in 1970.

He was a radio sports talk show host in 1980 on station WOR in New York City. He was the color broadcaster for the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball League in 1989-90 and has been a frequent guest on many of the top television and radio talk shows including "Biography on A&E," the "Fifty Greatest Athletes and the Dynasties on ESPN," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "ESPN Classic," and the YES network.

Golenbock lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his two basset hounds, Doris and Fred.

Reviews

[Corban Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dynasty" by Peter Golenbock is in my eyes the definitive account of the NY Yankees during a 15 year stretch of their dominance. Golenbock did a simply masterful job chronicling year by year the stories of the games and the championships alongside well done profiles of many of the characters who wore the pinstripes over the years, as well relationship that they had with each other. I especially appreciated the background on each person and the lives they led away from the ballpark, and how some of the ramifications of what they did away from the field affected the team as a whole at times. I could go on and on praising its virtues but suffice it to say that I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading it again. It was everything that I could have hoped for and then some, and this is coming from someone who isn't even really a baseball fan.

Well done Golenbock, well done.

[Gary Geiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first adult baseball book that I bought. It covers the Yankee Dynasty from 1949 to 1964 give or take a few years. Golenbock did a lot of interviews for this book, but not much else research. It is an okay introduction to the Yankees of that era, but there is better stuff that has come out since 1975.

[Tj Tunnington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable history of those great Yankee teams, not just history but anecdotes and a great story telling style. Huge book that read very quickly.

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title makes clear, this is a nonfiction account of the baseball dynasty known as the New York Yankees. It covers the time period when the Yankees really dominated baseball as they won 14 American League pennants during the 16 years covered in this book. And of those 14 World series appearances, they won nine of them. This was the time when Yankee dominance inspired the Broadway play, Damn Yankees by George Abbott. While watching the Yankees from a distance during the latter half of these years, they appeared to be winning easily. However, as this book makes clear, they had their challenges during this time. Injuries and competition did not always cooperate in the Yankee favor. However, they often managed to overcome those adversities. The author provides many post retirement, in depth interviews with the players as they looked back upon their careers. If you were indoctrinated into being a baseball fan during this time period as I was, then I am sure you will enjoy this in depth look at baseball in general and the Yankee dynasty in particular.

[John Albers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a White Sox fan in the 1950s and 60s was very difficult since the Yankees finished first fifteen out of 18 times between 1947 and 1964, making life miserable for fans of other American League teams. But this book is still well worth reading, the inside story of the Yankee franchise managed by Casey Stengel, Ralph Houk and Yogi Berra, great players like Mickey Mantle and White Ford playing in pain and succeeding, and the double dealing of Yankee management. A great read.

[Betsy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a Yankees fan, it’s a must-read. Highly informative and greatly entertaining.

[Vincent C. Miseo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dynasty

Great book for a life long Yankee fan. Highly recommend it to any Yankee fan. Covers the seasons before my time!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dynasy, by Peter Golenbock, is a must read for any true baseball enthusiast, but especially, for any New York Yankee fans who are also baby boomers. The book covers the Yankee franchise from 1949 through 1964, a 16-year period in which the team won14 pennants and 9 World Series titles. It spans the hiring of Casey Stengel, who managed NY from 1949 through 1960, through Ralph Houk's 3-year take-over, and then Yogi Berra's season in 1964. Interspersed throughout are interviews with stars such as Phil Rizzuto, Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat, Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Joe Pepitone, Jim Bouton and many more. This book was published in 1975. I enjoyed it tremendously.

[Jacob Rothstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Yankees fan , so I loved This book. Along with the history of the Yankees, there are funny stories and great interviews. The stories are true and really funny. The funny stories will give you lots of insight into the Yankee. There is a great interview of Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle was alive when the book was written. Each chapter covers a different year of the Yankee history.
I would recommend this book to all Yankee fans. You will love it. I could not put it down.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive study of the glory years of the New York Yankees, 1949-1964. 14 pennants in 16 seasons, 8 World Series wins. Interviews with all the greats, Mantle, Maris, Berra, Ford, and all the rest. A classic.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding history of possibly the greatest team ever to be put together. I loved the fact that this team was created pre-free agency market. What players they were. Very well written. Best baseball book ever.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great History of the Yankees

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant reliving my parents 1950's and my 1960's baseball history

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustively researched story of the great Yankee teams of the 50s and 60s, replete with interviews with many of the players themselves, and full of the love that only a true fan can provide