The New York Yankees in the Twentieth Century

Book excerpt: Not for baseball fans only, this enlightening, entertaining exploration of Yankee history examines how design theory and corporatism combined to create the world’s most famous baseball franchise, how the managers and star players were outliers who reflected philosophical movements—including existentialism, Gnosticism, and Machiavellianism—and how baseball, among other leisure pursuits, creates a stronger, more civil society. Throughout the book, Dr Klink points out the distinction between looking and seeing by exploring things spectators look at without really seeing or understanding their meaning and impact—the pinstripe uniforms, the stadium’s façade, even the Yankee baseball cap on a guy drinking a beer at a bar. The book explores all aspects of the culture surrounding the New York Yankees, from the stadium to the players and the larger community. It will be of interest to Yankees fans and non-fans alike.