Those Damn Yankees: The Secret Life of America's Greatest Franchise

There are really only three ways to take this book. Love the Yanks = hate the book; hate the Yanks = like the book; or, prefer an opinionated, well-researched, theoretical, political, interesting, polemical treatment of baseball over the usual insipid drivel = love the book.

Whether or not it is the author's intent, this book is more an insightful portrait of New York city in the height of the Giuliani era than a critique of the inarguably great and graceful 1998 Yankees. "The City" itself steals the show as the protagonist of Chadwin's narrative, making plain for insiders and outsiders alike, the level of inequality, hypocrisy and social lunacy that most New Yorkers take for granted or simply learn to ignore.

What an incredible book! I was enthralled with the shady dealings and secret sordid details of the Yankees and their fans. It was refreshing to see an unbiased opinion from an immensely talented writer. I have been a baseball fan since I was a little girl and I was mesmerized by the amazing season the Yankees had last year. When I read Mr. Chadwin's book, I was shocked and appalled at how much wrongdoing has occurred within the Yankee organization. The bigotry of the Bleacher fans and the sexual harassment incidents leave me with a bad taste in my mouth about the Yankees. I thank Mr. Chadwin for helping me open my eyes to the prejudice and discrimination that run amok within the Yankee organization.

At last! Someone dares to take on Yankee Nation! Those of us who love baseball yet hate watching the undermining of competion by having an unfair concentration of wealth (similar to society at large) in a few hands have been waiting for a book like this. Well written and thoughtful, by a true fan of the game who can step back and clearly identify the problems which, if not addressed, will kill it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I'd still say this even if Mr. Chadwin weren't a friend of mine.