Joe Torre’s book seems like an affirmation of everything the New York media and the blogosphere have long believed about the New York Yankees. In fact, the details that have come out so far are so obvious and unsurprising, that you have to wonder if Torre and co-author Tom Verducci did anything more than flesh out 10 years’ worth of New York Post and Daily News back pages. Luckily, we here at MLJ have gotten our hands on some of Torre’s original book pitches – and subsequent rejections – to confirm our suspicions.
Pitch 1:
Set in New York City, in the late 1900’s, “The Yankee Years” is a first hand account of the trials and tribulations that I went through each year as I tried to keep the New York Yankees at the top of the standings and in the World Series.
Rejection 1:
Sorry Joe. We’re going in a different direction.
Pitch 2:
Set in New York City, in the late 1900’s, “The Yankee Years” is a first hand account of my life in the Bronx as the Yankees’ skipper. It covers it all, from the daily train rides to changing Don Zimmer’s diaper, this book bears my soul.
Rejection 2:
Thanks again, Joe, but we’re looking for something a little more interesting to the public. And a little less gross.
Pitch 3:
“The Yankee Years” is a first hand account of my first meetings with all 483 players that were signed during my 12 years in the Bronx as manager of the most important team in baseball history.
Rejection 3:
Joe, we appreciate your hard work, but everyone knows about all the horrible signings the Yankees have made over the years.
Pitch 4:
Set in early twentieth century New York, “The Yankee Years” is a first-hand account of the time I helped Alex Rodriguez break out of a June slump.
Rejection 4:
Joe, did you say Alex Rodriguez?
Pitch 5:
“The Yankee Years” is the heartwarming story of the blooming friendship of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter as told by their manager who cared about them both deeply.
Rejection 5:
Joe, you lost me at “friendship,” but I briefly paid attention again when you mentioned Derek Jeter.
Pitch 6:
Did I say friendship? I meant… jealousy.
Rejection 6:
Joe, I’m listening….
Pitch 7:
Set in the late-1900’s, The Yankee Years chronicles the rocky relationship between superstars, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Rejection 7:
Joe, could you be more specific? And possibly work a pun in there?
Pitch 8:
Set in New York City, the players in the clubhouse called Alex Rodriguez A-Fraud and he loved Derek Jeter a lot. Like, he wanted to have his babies.
Acceptance Letter 1:
Joe,
We here at [Book Publisher] loved your pitch and can’t wait to read a sample chapter. Let’s plan this for a winter release because people will be starved to talk about the Yankees at that point in the year. Also, do you have anything a little more catty about the front office moves?
Pitch 9:
Bronx, Yankees, A-Fraud hearts Jeter, Cashman sucks, turmoil, Steinbrenner crazy, pressure to win.
Acceptance Letter 2:
Joe, check or PayPal?
Nicely done.
This is the kind of post that makes people famous.
We are on Day 3 of Yankees Years…The Tarnishing of Torre or Bitching about players that left town 4 years ago…It is truly amazing…Every talk show host starts by saying..I have not read the book yet but and then gives his interpretation. Every guest they have on says..I have yet to read the book yet but…It is the very worst of New York Overload…if only A-Rod started banging another 50 year old hag that used to be hot then it would only get worse
I read the book, but I don’t want to talk about it.
no way joe torre has a paypal acct.
You’re probably right spencer. That’s why I’m beginning to doubt the legitimacy of this account.
It all started with Kevin Brown.
PayPal is the only way any legitimate book publisher does business.
TBL once offered to PayPal Hef a dollar for a clue so Pay Pal is the only legitimate way