Jersey Yankee
09-23-01, 11:52 PM
Here's Bill Gallo's article (http://www.nydailynews.com/today/Metro_Sports/Baseball/a-126118.asp):
Whitey Throws Some Curves in Yank List
First, I'd like to say this: If, we of WWII were "The Greatest Generation," then we've got company; the generation that's performing today is simply outstanding.
Now, back to my old familiar sports caboose where the wheels still turn.
A few weeks ago, I was going to tell you about a book that two of my friends have just put out. I can do it now. The book is by Whitey Ford with Phil Pepe, an old colleague of mine here at the Daily News.
Many times I've been asked, "Whatever happened to Phil Pepe?" Well, folks, the former sports columnist is doing very well as a broadcaster on WCBS-FM radio.
Whitey and I go way back to the sandlot days in Astoria. He says in his book, "I was born in New York, a few miles from Yankee Stadium." But it was as a teenager that he played first base for the 34th Ave. Boys in Astoria. We played the same sandlots, but I was on another team and it's vague in my mind if we ever played against one another. His team was a champion and always had a strong reputation during the years before WWII.
One time at a dinner we were both at, Whitey took the mike and proclaimed, "In those sandlot days, I was a better hitter than Gallo." He got no argument from me. He was a lefthanded hitting first baseman, and as I recall, he'd punch those liners over short and was one of the better hitters in the neighborhood. Well, he wasn't too bad a hitter in the majors, either.
Now, the book: It's called "Few And Chosen — Defining Yankee Greatness Across The Eras."
It's a fine book and for anyone interested in baseball, especially Yankee fans, it's one that definitely belongs in your bookshelf with your favorite sports books.
It is a quick read and from cover to cover it is all baseball, melded with insights on the Yankees he played with — from Yogi Berra, who first caught him to Elston Howard, who was the last to handle his array of good stuff.
Being something of a baseball historian, Ford tells you about old stars such as Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Gordon, Bob Meusel, DiMag and the Babe.
You will get a big kick out of seeing who his all-time Yankee Team is. He goes through the entire team, starting with catcher. Who does he pick? Yogi, of course. He goes down the list with Bill Dickey second followed by Thurman Munson, Howard and Jorge Posada.
About catchers he quotes Yogi as only Yogi can be quoted: "Bill Dickey is teaching me all his experiences," says the Yog.
Whitey also has his eyes on today's Yankees. His first baseman is Lou Gehrig, but Tino Martinez makes the fourth slot. Yes, Don Mattingly is the second choice.
Whitey's top second baseman is Lazzeri, followed by Gordon, but at short he goes for Derek Jeter over Rizzuto. He has this accolade for the Scooter, though: "I saw him bail me out many times with his brilliant plays at short."
For his money, Whitey picks Casey Stengel as the best of all Yankee managers. Ford had great respect for Casey — mainly because, "everything that Stengel promised, he delivered."
After Stengel, Whitey puts Joe McCarthy followed by Joe Torre, Ralph Houk and Billy Martin (tied for fourth) and Miller Huggins.
I imagine the toughest time he had was in picking his center fielder. There's Joe D, of course, but roaming that real estate also was his good friend Mickey Mantle.
Who does he pick? Did you say Joe D?
Well, you may or not be surprised, but you'll have to buy the book to find out.
Whitey Throws Some Curves in Yank List
First, I'd like to say this: If, we of WWII were "The Greatest Generation," then we've got company; the generation that's performing today is simply outstanding.
Now, back to my old familiar sports caboose where the wheels still turn.
A few weeks ago, I was going to tell you about a book that two of my friends have just put out. I can do it now. The book is by Whitey Ford with Phil Pepe, an old colleague of mine here at the Daily News.
Many times I've been asked, "Whatever happened to Phil Pepe?" Well, folks, the former sports columnist is doing very well as a broadcaster on WCBS-FM radio.
Whitey and I go way back to the sandlot days in Astoria. He says in his book, "I was born in New York, a few miles from Yankee Stadium." But it was as a teenager that he played first base for the 34th Ave. Boys in Astoria. We played the same sandlots, but I was on another team and it's vague in my mind if we ever played against one another. His team was a champion and always had a strong reputation during the years before WWII.
One time at a dinner we were both at, Whitey took the mike and proclaimed, "In those sandlot days, I was a better hitter than Gallo." He got no argument from me. He was a lefthanded hitting first baseman, and as I recall, he'd punch those liners over short and was one of the better hitters in the neighborhood. Well, he wasn't too bad a hitter in the majors, either.
Now, the book: It's called "Few And Chosen — Defining Yankee Greatness Across The Eras."
It's a fine book and for anyone interested in baseball, especially Yankee fans, it's one that definitely belongs in your bookshelf with your favorite sports books.
It is a quick read and from cover to cover it is all baseball, melded with insights on the Yankees he played with — from Yogi Berra, who first caught him to Elston Howard, who was the last to handle his array of good stuff.
Being something of a baseball historian, Ford tells you about old stars such as Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Gordon, Bob Meusel, DiMag and the Babe.
You will get a big kick out of seeing who his all-time Yankee Team is. He goes through the entire team, starting with catcher. Who does he pick? Yogi, of course. He goes down the list with Bill Dickey second followed by Thurman Munson, Howard and Jorge Posada.
About catchers he quotes Yogi as only Yogi can be quoted: "Bill Dickey is teaching me all his experiences," says the Yog.
Whitey also has his eyes on today's Yankees. His first baseman is Lou Gehrig, but Tino Martinez makes the fourth slot. Yes, Don Mattingly is the second choice.
Whitey's top second baseman is Lazzeri, followed by Gordon, but at short he goes for Derek Jeter over Rizzuto. He has this accolade for the Scooter, though: "I saw him bail me out many times with his brilliant plays at short."
For his money, Whitey picks Casey Stengel as the best of all Yankee managers. Ford had great respect for Casey — mainly because, "everything that Stengel promised, he delivered."
After Stengel, Whitey puts Joe McCarthy followed by Joe Torre, Ralph Houk and Billy Martin (tied for fourth) and Miller Huggins.
I imagine the toughest time he had was in picking his center fielder. There's Joe D, of course, but roaming that real estate also was his good friend Mickey Mantle.
Who does he pick? Did you say Joe D?
Well, you may or not be surprised, but you'll have to buy the book to find out.