The definitive story of one of the greatest dynasties in baseball history, Joe Torre's New York Yankees.
When Joe Torre took over as m... read full description
When Joe Torre took over as m... read full description
reviews
Feb 12, 2009
Tony
rated it: 
Joe Torre has recently taken some criticism for this book but I would point out that (1) this is really a book by Tom Verducci ABOUT Joe Torre and (2) I really didn't find much "talking out of school" or shocking betrayals of confidence in this book at all. It's a bit strangely paced and phrased, but it's a most interesting look at the New York Yankees, and baseball in general, from 1996-2007, with lots of insights about the game and individual players, and some great anecdotes. One
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 15, 2009
Mike
rated it:
Let me start by saying that “The Yankee Years” isn’t the bash-fest that every media outlet made it to be before the book was released to the public. The “A-Fraud” thing is barely mentioned. And when it is, it’s in passing. After actually reading the book I don’t see what all the uproar was about. I suppose Joe Torre may have breached some kind of locker room blue line of silence but really he didn’t tell us anything we didn’t know in a broad scope. He and Tom Verducci really just fille
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Mar 29, 2009
Roy
rated it: 
For Yankee fans (I count myself as one) who lived through the twelve glorious years that this book covers, there are not many surprises. I would say I knew 80% of it, but it was interesting to hear the manager’s perspective (and surprising to hear the manager curse, will this be in an audio book?) When you watch the daily drama of a baseball season, for six-months (seven , in good years) out of the year, you become very familiar with the faces in and around a team. Going into this, I felt I al
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2009
Caroline
rated it:
There was certainly a lot of hype for this book ("A-Fraud"), but what everyone was dealing with were, in fact, the title of Chapter 8: "The Issues of Alex". The book was good, very funny, but also a little gimmicky.
Not every game 7 is the "greatest game ever played". Even if one of them (2001 World Series, 2003 ALCS, 2004 ALCS) was the greatest, surely all three of them weren't! The 3 greatest games ever played probably did not happen within 4 years of one ano More...
Not every game 7 is the "greatest game ever played". Even if one of them (2001 World Series, 2003 ALCS, 2004 ALCS) was the greatest, surely all three of them weren't! The 3 greatest games ever played probably did not happen within 4 years of one ano More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 24, 2011
NJMetal
rated it:
When this book was release it garnered tons of attention in the New York area. All the news outlets tried to paint it as a tell all by Torre where he lambasts and lionizes the Yankee players he worked with for twelve seasons. I read this book two years after the dust of the publication settled and can say without a doubt that Torre treats every subject and player with the class New York and the world have come to know him for.
For those he chooses to lionize, he will still point out More...
For those he chooses to lionize, he will still point out More...
Jan 22, 2011
Travis
rated it: 
Publicizing The Yankee Years as a Joe Torre book is misleading. This is Tom Verducci's work all the way, from start to finish. He chronicles Torre's twelve years as manager of the New York Yankees, telling Torre's story for him. To be fair, Verducci obviously collaborated with Torre and in fact quotes from interviews with the esteemed manager throughout to give a semblance of involvement. The third person perspective alone makes clear that this is not, in fact, coming from the pen of Joe Torre.
More...
More...
Sep 16, 2010
David
rated it: 
ugh. Even as a Red Sox fan, I've always respected and liked Joe Torre, but this is weak stuff. It's not quite a memoir -- written by someone else, but not in the "as told to" format; it's actually third person, so he's referred to as "Torre" throughout. But the non-objectivity and score-settling of the genre are still prominent -- guess who comes off looking bad in the General Manager Brian Cashman vs. Manager Joe Torre Yankees showdown at the end.
While I'm at More...
While I'm at More...
Jul 28, 2010
Shawn
rated it:
Yankee haters and lovers will enjoy this equally. In fact, Red Sox fans may enjoy this more than anyone.
The first thing to know about this book is that it is not really a "Joe Torre" book. While there is no doubt that he was a prime collaborator, it's told in the third person and it's Verducci's voice all the way.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Torre Years. Rather than being a "first we did this, then we did that," it's a valuable discussion on all th More...
The first thing to know about this book is that it is not really a "Joe Torre" book. While there is no doubt that he was a prime collaborator, it's told in the third person and it's Verducci's voice all the way.
I was pleasantly surprised by The Torre Years. Rather than being a "first we did this, then we did that," it's a valuable discussion on all th More...
Jun 16, 2009
Dave
rated it:
There are few things I love in life more than baseball. I think one of the things I like most is the complexity of a seemingly simple game, and also the different personalities.
In all of the years of the Yankees' dynasty, their winning became easy. But, as any good Mets' fan knows, winning is easy, isn't guaranteed and also comes with greater responsibility in the next seasons.
Joe Torre's teams won at a pace that is just unbelievable. 12 consecutive years of making More...
In all of the years of the Yankees' dynasty, their winning became easy. But, as any good Mets' fan knows, winning is easy, isn't guaranteed and also comes with greater responsibility in the next seasons.
Joe Torre's teams won at a pace that is just unbelievable. 12 consecutive years of making More...
Jun 13, 2009
Matt
rated it: 
Wow, this book is a must-read for any Yankee fan or any baseball fan in general. I would put it up there with Buster Olney's Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty, as books that explore the latest Yankee dynasty from the late '90's.
Why unbelievably successful the Yankees are an amazingly dysfunctional organization. Torre had to manage his players as well as the Owner and backstabbing executives and a general manager, who changed philosophies during his tenure and went from Torre ally to sel More...
Why unbelievably successful the Yankees are an amazingly dysfunctional organization. Torre had to manage his players as well as the Owner and backstabbing executives and a general manager, who changed philosophies during his tenure and went from Torre ally to sel More...
Jun 04, 2009
Resonance
rated it:
This was an enjoyable book that offers some penetrating glimpses into the life of a big league manager in the highest profile role in MLB -- managing for the Yankees. The book was chock full of anecdotes about various Yankees (players like Paul O'Neill, Derek Jeter and David Cone get quite a bit of positive coverage in this book, where Kevin Brown, David Wells, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and of course Alex Rodriguez won't feel too flattered by what they read) and the pressure-cooker environmen
More...
May 21, 2009
Jason_W.
rated it:
The Yankee Years is a book that tells about Joe Torre with his tenture with the Major League Baseball Club New Yor Yankees. It talks about from his early success and then his failures and how he can get so much sucess and still get fired. It shows teh cruelty of the teams and management is unorganized. Through his years he has the one where the Yankees Fans actually get to have some hope.
I can connect to the world because it shows how when Joe got fired other people get fired for doi More...
I can connect to the world because it shows how when Joe got fired other people get fired for doi More...
Jan 23, 2012
Jayson
rated it:
I like reading the biographies of famous people, especially those who I like and followed for a particular reason. Joe Torre was the manager, the head of the yankees and who was a big contributor to the Yankee dynasty. This book isnt just made up of a bunch of memoirs but also statistics, the keys to winning, along with magnificent and untold stories.
The magnificent thing about this like I said before is that there is no one story. There are stories told that only he and his players w More...
The magnificent thing about this like I said before is that there is no one story. There are stories told that only he and his players w More...
Oct 18, 2009
Ricki
rated it:
There were some interesting anecdotes in this story, but for the most part, it is predominantly statistics and recaps of major games. The author (as I presume Joe Torre didn't do that much of the writing) is clearly biased to certain players, and many of the anecdotes are one-sided. It seems the author had strong opinions on certain players, and tried to tell as many stories as possible to show the reader that these individuals don't have good personalities or inner strength as a ballplayers. So
More...
Jul 26, 2011
Ronald
rated it:
A recap of Joe Torre's experince as the manager of the New York Yankees from 1996 through 2007. Though billed as a memoir, it was written in the third person and at times I was confused as to who was being quoted and had to reread certain paragraphs. My respect for Torre was increased, and I even felt some empathy for those dreaded Yankees — though I shared Torre's dismay that they felt they (especially owner Geoge Steinbrenner) had to win a World Series championship every season or they were a
More...
Nov 13, 2009
Deman
rated it:
This is a wonderful book any Yankees, fan correct that baseball fan. It shows the changing of baseball after Moneyball The Art of Winning an Unfair Game was released. This book chronicles Torre's time in the Yankees through his 1995 start to his firing in 2007, it shows the Yankees step fall from a championship caliber team with wins in 96,98,99,and 2000 and the inefficient old veteran base timed through 2007. Though it is out of date because of the Yankees 27th World Championship, I felt it wa
More...
Oct 08, 2009
Brent
rated it:
The book clearly lists Joe Torre as an author merely so it can sell more copies. I have no doubt he was consulted and things were run by him but clearly this is Tom Verduzzi's baby. With Torre listed as an author I expected it to be written in the first person. Wasn't. Talked of Torre like it talked of any of the other characters.
This is a book on the New York Yankees during the 12 years Joe Torre was the manager from 1996-2007. The Yankees won four World Series in five years an More...
This is a book on the New York Yankees during the 12 years Joe Torre was the manager from 1996-2007. The Yankees won four World Series in five years an More...
Jun 19, 2010
Dygg
rated it:
It was nice to reminisce about the early Joe Torre years, but it wasn't particularly well-written (did anyone bother to edit?), and the Joe Torre as tragic figure theme grew more and more tiresome as the book drew to its close.
Also, it wasn't fair for me to do so, but I expected a few more (possibly scandalous) revelations. I suppose when a team is located in baseball's most rabid media-market, there can't be too much to reveal that isn't already public knowledge, but fair or not, I More...
Also, it wasn't fair for me to do so, but I expected a few more (possibly scandalous) revelations. I suppose when a team is located in baseball's most rabid media-market, there can't be too much to reveal that isn't already public knowledge, but fair or not, I More...
Feb 11, 2010
Amy
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, but I really wish it had more of Joe Torre in it instead of Verducci. The book was obviously written by Verducci with quotes and anecdotes from Torre just thrown in.
While baseball is not my favorite sport (I have too much invested in hockey to spend enough time obsessing over another sport), I am a 4th generation Yankees fan from my dad's side of the family and being knowledgeable about the Yankees is pretty much a prerequisite in my family. This book was a great More...
While baseball is not my favorite sport (I have too much invested in hockey to spend enough time obsessing over another sport), I am a 4th generation Yankees fan from my dad's side of the family and being knowledgeable about the Yankees is pretty much a prerequisite in my family. This book was a great More...
Oct 17, 2011
Dustin
rated it:
This book came out on the heels of an ugly divorce between manager Joe Torre and a Yankees team that he led to unprecedented success in the modern baseball world. It's because of this that I went into this book with an open mindset. In my experience, these 'tell-all' non-fiction sports books that come out shortly after the experiences take place have a tendency to be more flash than substance. The book caused quite a stir when it came out, at least in the 24-hour ESPN news cycle, and so I was sk
More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 21, 2009
Brian
rated it:
I've always liked Joe Torre, dating back to his tenure with the Braves in the 80's. His 12 years with the Yankees were amazing - 6 Pennants / 4 World Series Wins, but I have to admit that I often thought the teams just won and Joe didn't do that much. After reading this book, I get a greater appreciation of the qualities that led to calming the storm around the Yankees in the New York press and under the scrutiny of George Steinbrenner. I have a greater appreciation of Joe as a man and as a m
More...
Jul 23, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
Ok. I know what you're thinking: Why the hell is a Red Sox fan reading Joe Torre's "The Yankee Years"? It's simply the old adage: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." But as a Red Sox fan, I do believe in jinxes and the like. Therefore, I didn't actually "read" the book, but listened to the audio version - as quickly as possible - on an off-day in the Red Sox schedule, so I wouldn't be responsible for any bad juju. Can't be too careful.
I've a More...
I've a More...
May 12, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
I'm surprised that Torre commissioned the writing of this book. It is not well-written and if you lived in the NY area during the Torre years, you already knew 90% of what was in this book....plus, who wants to re-live 2004 ALCS ever again anyway, right? I wasn't a fan of Torre, nor am I fan of the book.
I found it ironic that Torre took credit for any player who came to New York and thrived, but blamed "playing in New York" for the Weavers, Javiers, and Randy Johnsons wh More...
I found it ironic that Torre took credit for any player who came to New York and thrived, but blamed "playing in New York" for the Weavers, Javiers, and Randy Johnsons wh More...
May 14, 2009
this book is about a yankee manager joe torre and his life managing the new york yankees. it tells you about his times winning championships with the yankees. he also talks about arod in the book saying how he is a very self centered player and all he cares about is his stats. so this book also reveals things about star baseball players because you are hearing it from the manager and the manager knows everything about their players. this book also talks about leaving the yankees and managing the
More...
May 20, 2009
Tommy
rated it:
( counts as 3)Imagine being one of the greatest Yankee couches ever. being in 6 world series and winning 4 of them. also a pretty good carer playing in the big leagues. that's the life Joe Torre had. also being apart of the greatest sports team of all time and couching under the most feared boss ever!
i loved this book it was the best book i have ever read and i have read about a lot of books. Joe was talking about his years in pinstripes and how he came in as kind of the underachieving More...
i loved this book it was the best book i have ever read and i have read about a lot of books. Joe was talking about his years in pinstripes and how he came in as kind of the underachieving More...
Mar 13, 2009
This was a little unsettling at first; written in third person, seemingly in Verducci's journalistic voice, while I had been expecting a Torre memoir, but once past that, the information and insights were amazing. Lots of Torre, as well as other voices/quotes (most notably Mike Mussina). And lots of really thoughtful analyses of the state of baseball now. (pre-financial meltdown/recession)
This was a near-perfect description of the period in baseball, and especially of the effects of More...
This was a near-perfect description of the period in baseball, and especially of the effects of More...
Jun 14, 2009
Paul
rated it:
I am a diehard Boston Red Sox fan. So my interest in reading a book about Joe Torre and his years managing the Yankees was more about reading Torre's comments about his former players, especially players such as Alex Rodriguez. The book contains a lot of Yankee stories and insights from Joe, however Tom Verducci also writes a lot about baseball in general and much to my surprise and pleasure a fair amount of time dedicated to talk about the Red Sox. The section on the ALCS of 2004 was especially
More...
Mar 25, 2009
Erica
rated it:
I am a Yankees fan via marriage. I am new to being a Yankees fan (since probably 2003) so I thought this book would give me some history that I otherwise only get bits and pieces of through my husband and through broadcasters. All of the content was great. I think that I learned a ton about what it takes to coach a team that only accepts winning. The stories about the players were also very interesting. I guess I don't know the locker room code but I didn't feel that Torre stepped out of bo
More...
Apr 27, 2010
Scarlet
rated it:
As much as I hate the Yankees, it's impossible for me to hate Torre. This one is much different from his first book, which was told in the first person. The Yankee Years feels more like an extended piece in Sports Illustrated. It's also somewhat confusing, as it jumps all over the place in chronology. Good stuff, though. The most interesting bits were the interviews about pivotal games. I really enjoyed the detailed interviews with Pedro re: the infamous Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS (oh, how I still
More...
Apr 14, 2009
Richard
rated it:
I mostly didn't like this book. I expected this book to be about Joe Torre with the Yankees, as it was co-written by Torre. But it was written in the third person: Torre did this, Torre thought that. I thought that was kind of odd.
I liked a couple of the chapters that dealt with "Moneyball"-type issues, but those chapters focused more on the Red Sox than the Yankees.
I just didn't think the book was written in all that interesting of a way. I would give it 1 More...
I liked a couple of the chapters that dealt with "Moneyball"-type issues, but those chapters focused more on the Red Sox than the Yankees.
I just didn't think the book was written in all that interesting of a way. I would give it 1 More...
