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xvii, [1], 651, [3] pages. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Peter

xvii, [1], 651, [3] pages. Illustrations. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Peter Golenbock, one of the nation's best-known sports authors, was born on July 19, 1946. He graduated Dartmouth College in 1967 and the New York University School of Law in 1970. As a boy living in suburban Fairfield County, Golenbock grew up a Yankee fan. He began following professional baseball in 1955 during the heart of the Casey Stengel dynasty. His heroes were Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. One day in the local library he discovered a wonderful book written by Frank Graham, who provided insights into the personalities of the players and the history of the team. Golenbock began writing about sports for The New York Times and The Boston Globe. Golenbock then worked in the legal department of Prentice-Hall Inc. He told Nick D'Incecco, the head of the Prentice-Hall trade book division about Graham's Yankee book. Golenbock wanted to write its sequel. D'Incecco liked the idea and gave him a contract. DYNASTY: The New York Yankees 1949-64, the definitive history of the Casey Stengel-Ralph Houk-Yogi Berra era of Yankee greatness, a period of 14 pennants in 16 years, became a best-seller. Golenbock has written some of sports' most important books, including five New York Times best sellers. Among his best-known books include THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, THE BRONX ZOO, which he wrote with New York Yankee pitcher Sparky Lyle; BUMS: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and WILD, HIGH AND TIGHT his biography of Yankee manager Billy Martin; and IDIOT with Johnny Damon. Derived from a Publishers Weekly review: Having chronicled the Yankees, Golenbock takes a look at another storied organization, the St. Louis Cardinals, and its near-forgotten crosstown rival, the St. Louis Browns. His narrative guides readers through an impressive collection of oral histories of past and living veterans of the game. Managers and owners play a significant role in the story as Golenbock does an excellent job of describing the impact of the two franchises on baseball history. The Cardinals' stalwart general manager, Branch Rickey, long before he signed Jackie Robinson to play for the Dodgers, revolutionized baseball by creating the farm system. He eventually built the Cards into a success (the team has won nine World Series, second only to the Yankees) though he paid players as little as possible. The Browns, however, struggled constantly, failing to garner new talent or retain rising stars, until owner and showman Bill Veeck (infamous for sending a midget to bat and for fielding a one-armed outfielder) was forced to sell the club. Significant baseball figures profiled include Rogers Hornsby, Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, Curt Flood and Mark McGwire. Field-level anecdotes and insights from more than 150 baseball seasons abound. Both teams could boast great rosters at one time or another, but dynasties have eluded them. Their histories of struggle, with Golenbock's focus on the owner's hand, reveal how volatile the business of baseball has always been.