J. David Herman

This is an at times interesting look at the 1981 Columbus Clippers season. For several months in the middle of the season, the Clippers were the best team in baseball. Why? The major league players were on strike and, as a result, the Clippers not national TV and radio attention.

The book was uneven, with some absolutely terrific spots and some less than stellar spots. It benefits somewhat by the fact that the author was a huge fan of this team. For baseball fans who like a nostalgic look at show more baseball seasons gone by, this might be something they'd like.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) show less

ALMOST YANKEES, by J. David Herman, tells the forgotten story of the 1981 Columbus Clippers, the AAA minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. When Major League Baseball went on strike, this ragtag team of up and coming stars and grizzled veterans were thrust into the spotlight. Some of the players continued to mature into major leaguers, while for others, this was their last and maybe only time to shine.
Herman tells the story of the team and all of its players with such passion and show more vigor. I particularly enjoyed reading about the manager, Frank Verdi, who could probably have a book written just about him and his antics. Many of Herman's stories of the individual players were well-researched and fun to read about and his tales of George Steinbrenner reflected a feeling of awe, coupled with a hearty dose of eye-rolling at some of his ridiculous choices based on personal animosities. Herman does try to tie in national stories in 1981, I think to try and create a fuller feeling of the time, but those interludes in the book just seem clunky and random and took away from my enjoyment of the book. Herman also splices in his personal story at certain parts and while I appreciate how baseball can tying into one's life deeply, I wish there was some sort of indication of this in the title of the book. Generally, the layout of the book felt very clunky and uneven.
Some really fun stories from the 1918 Columbus Clippers that I won't soon forget, ALMOST YANKEES does take me back to a pleasantly different time in baseball that is lost in today's world. Any baseball fan is going to come away from this book with a new appreciation for minor leaguers and some great tales of baseball lore.
Thank you to University of Nebraska Press, J. David Herman, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less