Joe Dimaggio - the Promise (Hardcover, illustrated edition)

"Joe Dimaggio -- The Promise" is a sports book that highlights the New York Yankees of the 1950's an extrordinary time in baseball history. During this era, Casey Stengel began his legendary tenure as Yankee manager (1949), Joe DiMaggio ended and Mickey Mantle began their major league careers (1951). More than a sports book, it is an inspirational book that chronicles the Yankees exploits winning five Pennants and five World Championships in a row from 1949 to 1953. The reader is riveted to the book hoping to learn the secrets of success as illustrated by successful ball players in general but Joe DiMaggio in particular. Young Joe Carrieri, the author and former Yankee batboy, follows DiMaggio for three years and illustrates his class, style and grace. He was a man of few words who let his bat do his talking. He felt comfortable and at ease at the plate and in centerfield. He truly was born to play a boys game on sweet smelling green grass in a big city. He was born to play ball and play he did. The Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio reveals to the author his secrets of success and also keeps a promise to his young batboy. Fifty years later, DiMaggio and Carrieri meet again and this time, it is Carrieri who keeps his promise to Joe DiMaggio.

While we mourn his death, we sense that DiMaggio has not really left us. We sense that DiMaggio was more than a hero, he is a legend and legends never die. Whenever there are boys of summer playing baseball, DiMaggio will live in our minds and hearts forever. In a quiet moment, you may hear Public Address announcer, Bob Shepard, in his inimical voice exhort at a packed Yankee Stadium, "And now Ladies and Gentlemen, the greatest living ball player, JoeDiMaggio".