The New York Yankees have come, notes former Sports Illustrated executive editor Rob Fleder, to symbolize "everything good and strong and true about baseball and America and the human race in general. Either that, or avarice and unrepentant evil." Damn Yankees is a collection of original essays that reflect those diverging views, as an all-star lineup of writers from the fields of sports (Tom Verducci, Sally Jenkins), literature (Nathaniel Rich) and even finance (James Surowiecki) share their thoughts on this quintessential sports dynasty.
Some of the essays are crafted with lyricism and sensitivity, others are scathingly tongue-in-cheek, filled with backhanded compliments and a bone-to-pick tone. Passion and insight fuel each essay, shedding light into the historical Yankees, from the Babe, Mantle and DiMaggio to Derek Jeter; the price of wearing the pinstripes and winning at all costs; rivalries and the grueling duels between teams, players and fans; and the foibles and scandals that have rocked the team. Other essays explore the more human side of the game, including a visit with Catfish Hunter in his final days, Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter Rick Telander's profile of Jim Abbott, a one-handed pitcher whose rise to fame was snuffed out by the 1994 baseball strike, and reflections on how rooting for or against the Yankees can transcend generations (J.R. Moehringer) and continents (Colum McCann).
Damn Yankees is capped by a section that offers facts, figures and statistics supporting the many reasons why the Yanks--whether revered or loathed--are considered an American institution and a symbol of greatness. --Kathleen Gerard, blogger at Reading Between the Lines