"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

When Black Friday Comes I’m Gonna Stake My Claim

It’s the biggest shopping day of the year, so here are a few of the things that have come into my possession in the past year which the baseball fan on your list might enjoy (or which you may want to ask for yourself):

Yankee Colors

Yankee Colors photographs by Marvin E. Newman, text by Al Silverman

This is an absolutely gorgeous book of full-color photography from the late ’50s and early ’60s including game action from the 1955-1958 and 1960-1965 World Series, shots from spring training, and looks inside the Yankee locker room. Newman’s photography, which also includes some black and white work, is alternately intimate and breathtaking, and some of the images of the old Stadium are particularly striking, a true revelation even after all of the retrospectives from the last year.

Weber on Umpires

2009 World Series film2009 World Series Collector's Edition

As They See ‘Em by Bruce Weber – I’ll admit I’ve only just started this one, inspired by a recent episode of the MLB Network’s “Studio 42 with Bob Costas” featuring Steve Palermo, Don Denkinger, and Bruce Froemming, but I can already tell it’s a keeper. A very rare look into the insular word of major league umpires, Weber explores an essential, but mysterious aspect of the game with a curious, conversational style.

The 2009 World Series film – This has only been on the market for a week, but it’s a must for any Yankee fan, particularly one that already own the outstanding collection of the World Series films of the Yankees’ championships from 1943 to 2000. If you don’t own the latter, put that on your list as well, or, for you big spenders, go whole-hog with this.

The 2009 World Series box set – This one’s not even out yet (street date: Dec. 15), but MLB does a great job with these sets, and this one is sure to follow suit. Again, for those who don’t already have it, this box of games from the 1996 to 2001 World Series is also a must-have for Yankee fans.

Baseball Prospectus 2010 – I schill, yes, but this book, a valuable guide to the 2010 season, contains three team chapters written by me, three more written by “Bronx Banter Breakdown” regular Jay Jaffe, and several more written by friend-of-the-Banter and co-editor Steven Goldman, not to mention the other talented BP regulars who are contributing. It won’t publish until February, but if you pre-order your copy now, you’ll get it in time for your fantasy draft, or in time to sort through the subs in spring training.

And having schilled for myself, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you about friend-of-the-Banter Mark Lamster’s Master of Shadows, which Alex wrote about last month.

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6 comments

1 Diane Firstman   ~  Nov 27, 2009 12:21 pm

Cliff .... any word on whether BP2010 will join its Prospectus/Outsiders brethren in offering a downloadable PDF version?

2 Cliff Corcoran   ~  Nov 27, 2009 1:12 pm

I'm no longer the man to ask about such things. I'm just a writer. I have no idea.

3 Paul   ~  Nov 27, 2009 8:00 pm

Totally agree on your latest Tweet. Montero IS untouchable. For all the writers who push rumors this off-season, they have to answer one question: Why would Cashman trade any prospects for Halladay when he wouldn't for Santana and when he just won another ring with that strategy?

The answer is: He won't.

Maybe if there was a David Wells-Homer Bush deal to be made, but I don't see it. Melky perhaps, but even then I think Cash would rather see if Melky develops power than trade him.

Montero is safe. Thanks goodness. It's going to be fun watching him.

4 Lunatic   ~  Nov 28, 2009 12:01 am

So is it true the Derek gonna win SI sportsman of the year??

5 Raf   ~  Nov 28, 2009 10:31 pm

That Yankees Color book looks awesome. Hopefully I can find it for a reasonable price. I could use a coffee table book. Come to think of it, I could use a coffee table :)

Cliff, I think the word you're looking for is "shill" unless you're referring to #38 :)

6 Hank Waddles   ~  Nov 30, 2009 2:07 pm

I'm assuming that the World Series box set will inlcude the basic World Series video in addition to the other extra stuff. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Also, Cliff, I have to agree with your Montero tweet. How any sane person could recommend dealing Montero AND Hughes or Joba for almost anyone is beyond me.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver