Baseball
might be considered America's favorite pastime, but to a 17-year-old graffiti
artist from Queens, it also became a saving grace. While spray-painting his
"art" on Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on June 29th, 1973, Ray Negron was
caught in the act by George Steinbrenner, the Yankees' infamous owner. But
instead of prosecuting the vandal, "The Boss" showed uncharacteristic
compassion and offered the young Negron a way to work off his transgression by
helping out the team. This begins a moving story of how a fatherless street kid
and vandal, given a chance by an unlikely savior, transformed himself from
batboy to gofer to batting practice pitcher, ultimately becoming a much beloved
and trusted inner-circle member of the Bronx Bombers.
With
an assist from Sally
Cook (Another Season), Negron--a
loyal Yankee employee for nearly four decades--pays tribute to the powerful and
oft-maligned Steinbrenner for his role in changing his life, while also
presenting a plethora of surreal moments and memories shaped by baseball greats
like Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Phil Rizzuto,
Catfish Hunter, A-Rod and Derek Jeter. Told with candor and admiration, Yankee Miracles is an
inspirational mosaic detailing Negron's unusual relationship with each of his
heroes and the wisdom and lessons they imparted--and of how Negron, now a
community adviser for the team, has dedicated himself to helping sick and needy
city kids find joy, fulfillment and hope in their own lives.
Liveright,
$25.99, Hardcover, 9780871404619, 288 pp
Publication
Date: September 3, 2012
Please
note: This review is a reprint and is being posted with the permission of Shelf Awareness. To read this review
on Shelf Awareness: Reader's Edition (9/7/12), click HERE.