There's a lot to last said for existence the correct someone at the correct fourth dimension at the correct place.
Ask Casey Stengel.
That mightiness total upwardly the life of Stengel. Marty Appel uses those words in addition to many to a greater extent than inwards his novel biography of the legendary baseball game figure, "Casey Stengel - Baseball's Greatest Character."
Appel, also known equally George Steinbrenner's showtime populace relations manager amongst the New York Yankees, is well-qualified to endeavor to pose a moving-picture demo of Stengel together. He's written several books on baseball, in addition to patently has enough of contacts through the Yankees' history in addition to through baseball game to brand this operate inwards an entertaining in addition to comprehensive style.
Stengel's existent lift was Charles, merely he was from Kansas City - in addition to he picked upwardly the lift Casey (as inwards K.C.) along the way. Stengel ever preferred baseball game to schoolhouse work, in addition to dropped out of high schoolhouse a lilliputian early on to sign a professional person contract. And why not? His starting salary was twice what his begetter was earning.
Stengel wasn't a bad player, reaching the majors in addition to bouncing roughly through a few teams ane time he got there. It included half-dozen years inwards Brooklyn in addition to iii amongst the New York Giants; Casey liked playing on the big phase that New York offered. Stengel also displayed an powerfulness to last entertaining. The sportswriters would telephone telephone it "colorful" or tell he was a "real character." Whatever yous telephone telephone it, Casey was the type of guy who ane time reacted to a greeting at the batter's box yesteryear taking off his cap - in addition to having a sparrow wing off his head. You don't run into that today.
Stengel played xiv years. Baseball-reference.com's listing of comparable batters has him equally a unopen stand upwardly for to Cleon Jones - who signed amongst the Mets when Stengel worked there. He had a habit of turning upwardly at historic moments - similar hitting the showtime habitation run inwards Ebbets Field inwards Brooklyn, or hitting the showtime habitation run inwards a World Series inwards Yankee Stadium.
After finishing his playing career, Stengel started to operate off the champaign - in addition to provided a laugh-out-loud minute inwards his mass correct away. He was named the president in addition to manager of a minor-league squad inwards Worcester. Soon he was offered a project equally a manager inwards Toledo, merely the franchise possessor inwards Worcester didn't desire to allow him accept it. So Casey the manager wrote a alphabetic lineament to Casey the president, resigning from the position. Casey the president wrote dorsum amongst "I bring together the fans of Worcester inwards expressing our appreciation for your outstanding services rendered in addition to wishing yous luck inwards your novel position. We congratulate Toledo on getting your valuable services."
Stengel managed for several years inwards the majors, guiding Brooklyn in addition to the Boston Braves inwards the 1930s in addition to early on 1940s. But he alone had ane squad play inwards a higher house .500, thus no ane idea of him equally a genius. But Stengel nonetheless landed the Yankees project inwards 1949, in addition to promptly won 5 straightaway World Series championship - which has never been matched. It's funny how smart he got when he had practiced players. Joe Torre had a similar sense inwards the Bronx, equally he guided the neat Yankee teams inwards the tardily 1990s later on having lilliputian success equally a manager beforehand.
Some loved Stengel, in addition to some disliked him. The sports writers in addition to the populace to a greater extent than oftentimes than non loved him, though, edifice upwardly practiced will. He could last unconventional equally a manager, pinch-hitting for players inwards the 2nd inning in addition to making strange decisions amongst the pitching staff. But generally, they worked out pretty well.
Appel barely touches on ane business office of the Yankees' floor inwards the 1950s, which is race. The Yankees didn't integrate the major league roster until 1955, good behind most other teams. That would look to last a sign that Yankee scouts weren't inwards a hurry to add together African Americans to the roster, although a brace of anecdotes indicates that Stengel didn't conduct keep whatever problems amongst an integrated roster.
Stengel took a yr off later on the Yankees ordered him to retire later on the 1960 season, in addition to thus turned upwardly equally the manager of the New York Mets. The expansion squad wanted some attention, in addition to Stengel for sure could render that. The Mets presently outdrew the contender in addition to much ameliorate Yankees. But New York's Mets were a terrible baseball game squad inwards those early on years, ane of the worst inwards history. It's slowly to wonder if Stengel was the correct human being for that project inwards a baseball game sense, in addition to if the Mets were mismanaged inwards their showtime few years of play. Those issues give-up the ghost to a greater extent than oftentimes than non unexplored here.
Appel did enough of research, in addition to comes upwardly amongst some facts that must conduct keep taken some earthworks to find. He is helped inwards his project yesteryear using portions of an unpublished autobiography yesteryear Stengel's wife, Edna. Written inwards 1958, the tales from that create assist illuminate Casey equally a consummate someone - ane who was drawn to the spotlight, unable to trace away inwards spite of his wife's wishes inwards that area. There are a few moments inwards the mass where the floor becomes a lilliputian choppy, merely for the most business office this is an slowly elevator to read.
Appel also patently is real fond of Stengel equally a character, in addition to it's tough non to be. Any criticism of the dependent champaign is rather gentle, in addition to speedily offset yesteryear warm words. For those who don't know why nosotros nonetheless yell upwardly the legendary figure thus well, "Casey Stengel" fills inwards the gaps well.
Four stars
Learn to a greater extent than near this book.
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