Description
Book SynopsisA biography of Tony Lazzeri, a key member of the Yankees’ legendary Murderers’ Row lineup between 1926 and 1937 and the first major baseball star of Italian descent.
Trade Review"Baldassaro does an incredible job of bringing Tony Lazzeri to the masses. Every baseball fan needs to read this book to appreciate Tony's baseball skills and his place in American society as he is one of the most underrated and unappreciated baseball players in the game's rich history."—Thomas R. Mueller,
NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture"Well-known Joe DiMaggio biographer Baldassaro has scored a gem with this biography of baseball star Tony Lazzeri. . . . This book adds much new detail and perspective to the history and development of baseball. It is a must-read for baseball fans, particularly fans of the New York Yankees. It belongs in all public libraries, and libraries with a local connection to the subject."—Steve Dixon,
Library Journal, starred review
"More than a biography of the subtitled
Yankees Legend and Baseball Pioneer, this study helps us understand how this sport affected not only a nation, but also those newcomers looking for a way to fit into the new culture. . . . Tony Lazzeri had a feel for the game that was not restricted to the fields. Beyond his move from sandlots to professional ball, from the minors to the majors, Lazzeri developed a baseball sense that he brought to life, enabling him not only to become an outstanding player, but a deep thinker of the game. . . . Thanks to Baldassaro, today’s generation can better appreciate what this man did for the game and his paesani in his gentlemanly and modest way."—Fred L. Gardaphé,
Voices in Italian Americana"Baldassaro has written the definitive biography of Tony Lazzeri."—Jason Schott ,
Brooklyn Digest"In
Tony Lazzeri, Baldassaro provides a nuanced view of Italian Americans—on and off the baseball diamond."—Bob D'Angelo,
Sports Bookie"In
Tony Lazzeri: Yankees Legend and Baseball Pioneer, Lawrence Baldassaro has written the book that was long overdue. It's remarkably well researched and detailed, and holds the reader's interest from start to finish. In my opinion, it will soon be recognized as the definitive biography of this great Hall-of-Famer ballplayer, Tony Lazzeri. It's one I highly recommend to all baseball fans."—Gary Livacari,
Baseball History Comes Alive!"Great authors write history in a way that makes it seem like a novel. Lawrence Baldassaro does this in his great book.
Tony Lazzeri: Yankees Legend and Baseball Pioneer is an outstanding read. I recommend this book highly. It is outstanding and will prove to be one of the definitive texts on the Yankees of this era."—Paul Semendinger,
Start Spreading the News"Baldassaro's examination of Tony Lazzeri's life is a solid contribution to the literary subgenre of baseball biography."—Charlie Bevis,
Bevis Baseball Research“Cheers to Mr. Baldassaro for mining this terrific story.”—Ira Berkow, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of
How Life Imitates Sports“Tony Lazzeri was one of the first Italian American sports stars, a key player of the famed Murderers’ Row Yankees lineup, and an underappreciated American success story who overcame poverty and epilepsy. He is a worthy subject for this closer look at a Hall of Famer.”—Tom Verducci, senior baseball writer for
Sports Illustrated and MLB TV commentator
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Growing Up in San Francisco
2. The Agony and Ecstasy of the Minor Leagues
3. “The Greatest Thing I’ve Ever Seen”
4. New Challenges
5. The Reign of Terror
6. Playing through the Pain
7. Peak Performance
8. A Major League Mystery
9. The Big Revival
10. Pennant Drought
11. Snubbing Father Time
12. Farewell to Pinstripes
13. Twilight Trail
14. Final Years in Uniform
15. Life after Baseball
16. Legacy
Notes
Bibliography
Index
