First published 2012
Every spring, Ron Guidry picks up Yogi Berra at the Tampa airport and drives him to Yankees spring training. The Hall of Fame catcher and the former pitching star spend their days watching young players, sharing meals, and swapping stories about baseball legends. Their friendship began in 1999 when Berra returned to the Yankees after fourteen years away, following his firing by George Steinbrenner. Guidry remembered how Berra had mentored him during his playing career and encouraged the older man to share his knowledge with the current team. Berra's casual batting advice transforms Nick Swisher's season. His tales of facing Ted Williams and catching Don Larsen's perfect game captivate the younger players. What starts as companionship between two former teammates deepens into genuine friendship. Araton chronicles their annual ritual and captures how wisdom passes between generations in baseball.
Genres: biography, friendship, sports, baseball
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, mentor-mentee
Setting: Tampa, Yankees
Period: 1999, Spring
224 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt