I know as Mets fans this is not the best time to talk about a book dealing with the Highlanders but MUNSON: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain by Marty Appel(Random House) is a must read as Thurman Munson was a not only a revered Yankee but he was respected by everyone in the game. At the time of his death, which is approaching its 30^th Anniversary (W-O-W!!!!) the big debate with baseball fans when it came to the catcher position was Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk and Munson. All three could hit and Bench was the better receiver and Fisk the more durable but none were tougher or more of a clutch hitter (back in the 70’s we believed in clutch hitting) than Munson.

As tough and productive as Munson was on the field he was as complex off it and if anyone could give you a look at the complexity and the esteem that Thurman Munson held with his teammates and his peers it’s Marty Appel.

Appel was the long time Yankees PR Director in the heyday of “The Bronx is Burning” era of Yankee baseball.

Put your team alliance aside for now and pick up MUNSON: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain by Marty Appel as it is not only gives you an inside look at baseball back in the 70’s but it chronicles the life and times of a player who was headed for the Hall of Fame who was taken at young life as he tried to juggle his responsibility as a husband, parent, teammate and leader.

MUNSON: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain can be found in book stores and at

Amazon

BN

BORDERS 

One of the things about baseball that it has head and shoulders over other sports is it’s characters and one of the greatest of all time was Satchel Paige. In SATCHEL: The Life and Times of an American Hero, (Random House) Larry Tye goes in depth about not just Paige the pitcher but Paige the man taking us from his childhood in Mobile, Alabama through the Negro Leagues, to his Barn Storming Tours to finally making it to the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and winning AL Rookie of the Year at the age of 42.  After reading SATCHEL : The Life and Times of an American Legend, and ask yourself where does Paige rank on the list of all time pitchers and if you didn’t think he was a top 10 before you may be surprised you change your mind after reading this book.

SATCHEL: The Life and Times of an American Hero can be found at book stores and at

Amazon

BN

Borders

We will be joined tonight by Ben Kabak of the Yankees blog River Ave Blues as we talk Yankee baseball   Join us live by clicking here or enjoy the podcast by clicking on the links on the righ tof this page