Overview
In Catfish, Yaz, and Hammerin' Hank, sportswriter Phil Pepe talks to the stars of the day about their fondest memories and their greatest highlights from an era gone by. The spirit of the day is nostalgically captured in Pepe's priceless interviews and through scores of archival photographs. This book proves to be as enjoyable as the era it so thoroughly depicts.
Author Biography
Phil Pepe is the author of more than 40 books on sports, including collaborations with Yankee legends Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, and Whitey Ford. He was the Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News from 1968 to 1981 and is former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bucky Dent is a former professional baseball player and manager who famously hit a homerun for the New York Yankees to help between the Boston Red Sox in a tie-breaker game in 1978.
Press Releases
Major
League Baseball in the 1970s was the most colorful era
in
the sport’s history: the White Sox’s short-pants uniforms,
the
Astros’ rainbow jerseys, Charlie Finley’s orange baseball
even
the Big Red Machine.
Catfish, Yaz, and Hammerin’ Hank: The Unforgettable Era
That Transformed Baseball by Phil
Pepe reveals the 1970s
as
the decade that witnessed the most abundant changes in the
sport’s
history. While many fans may recall the most vibrant
visuals
and well-sung anthems of the era – Rollie Fingers’
handlebar
mustache, the Pirates fans signing “We Are Family”,
the
Houston Astros’ mammoth Astrodome and Chicago’s
Disco
Demolition Night – Pepe discovered in his extensive
interviewing
with players that the decade is the bridge from
the
“old school” know-how of the game to the “nu skool” physical ability that was
not previously associated with the game.
With
the advent of steroids and other physically-enhancing drugs in the 1980s, there’s
no wonder why the 1970s is considered the last “clean” era in the game. To
chronicle the change in the sport that occurred during the ’70s, Pepe
interviewed more than 60 former players, managers, coaches and executives,
including:
· George Steinbrenner · Marvin Miller
·
Tommy
Lasorda · Tim McCarver · Billy Martin
· Bowie Kuhn · George
Brett
Bucky Dent not only wrote the Foreword to Catfish, Yaz, and Hammerin’
Hank, but is also doing media interviews to support it. Dent, who is
the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds this season, is available for
interviews. If you are interested in scheduling an interview please contact Scott Rowan (information above).
About
the Author
Phil Pepe is
the author of over 40 books on sports, including collaborations with Yankee
legends Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford. Pepe was the Yankees
beat writer for the New York Daily News
from 1968-1981 and is former president of the Baseball Writers Association of
America.