From Yankee Bucky "F**ing" Dent's spirit-shattering home run in the 1978 American League East playoff to Aaron Boone's pennant-winning blast for the Bombers twenty-five years later; from Roger Clemens's treasonous signing (at least in Red Sox country) with the Yankees in 1998 to the infamous Curse of the Bambino that started it all, there is nothing in the history of sports more spirited, vitriolic, romantic, and impassioned than the rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees vs. Red Sox Reader collects the finest writing on what is surely the pinnacle of contentious athletic team competition. A rich array of our most gifted sports writers chronicle an enmity that reaches far beyond the playing field as it is interwoven into the mythologies of these two cities and inextricably linked to the identity of the fans that inhabit them. Chronicling every cheer, jeer, and "1918" (the last year the Red Sox won the World Series) shouted from Fenway to the Bronx, The Yankees vs. Red Sox Reader is an absolute must for not only the fans of these storied franchises, but also anyone interested in the truly epic nature of a great sports rivalry.
The curse is over, and the Red Sox have won the World Series: let the books begin. This one focuses on Boston's rivalry with the Yankees. Editor Robbins has put together a valuable collection of writings on the Yanks--versus-Sox theme. The material is gathered into "Early Innings" (1903-50), "Middle Innings" (1951-85), and "Late Innings" (1985-), ending with a postscript on the Bostons' 2004 triumph. Short essays introduce each section, as do a series of quotes ("They Said It") and a few pictures. The selections themselves are made up of chapters from other books and newspaper articles. Highlights include Mary Cantwell's "Hating Doris," about her gentle crush on Ted Williams, and several pieces about what happens when a couple or a family are split between red socks and pinstripes. GraceAnne DeCandido
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