The Colonel and Hug: The Partnership that Transformed the New York Yankees

From 1917-1929, owner Jacob Ruppert and manager Miller Huggins provided the "patience, skill and commitment" to make winning championships the norm for the New York Yankees, who previously lacked virtually any history of winning. The partnership produced six pennants and three world championships.Authors Steve Steinberg and Lyle Spatz offer great insights into this often underestimated partnership, explaining the strengths of each man and the role each of them played.The lackluster Yankees finished fifth, fourth and sixth under manager Bill Donovan from 1915-1917. After deciding to fire Donovan, Ruppert hired Huggins and declared he would spare no expense in making the Yankees a winner. Years later, Ruppert said hiring Huggins was the most important move toward building the Yankees.Huggins was known as one of the smartest men in baseball. Yet, his lack of leadership, colorless personality and unwillingness to court the press often caused him to be underestimated. Huggins constantly battled immense pressure and impatience from the press and fans. His own players often questioned Huggins' decisions, strategy and judgment.Huggins recognized Babe Ruth's greatness and was influential in convincing Ruppert to purchase the slugger in 1920. While Ruth was a tremendous addition to the Yankees, he was a constant source of headaches for Huggins, who couldn't discipline the Bambino (who could?).Expectations were always high for Huggins and the Yankees. He was criticized when the Yankees didn't win the pennant, and even when they did. He knew that first place was the only thing that counted. It wasn't until the Yankees swept the 1927 and 1928 World Series that Huggins' managerial reputation rose.After his death, from blood poisoning, in 1929 at the age of 51, Damon Runyan wrote, "No man was more patient under adversity and criticism than Huggins."Ruppert, who frequently heard the 'break up the Yankees' cry, never lost his will to win. He encouraged other owners to spend money, if they wanted to be competitive, rather than whine about the Yankees' success.Despite what they were able to accomplish, both Huggins and Ruppert were underappreciated. Huggins wasn't elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1964, and Ruppert didn't gain entry until 2013.Authors Steinberg and Spatz are an excellent team. Their research is thorough, and their writing is interesting and engaging. Any reader interested in baseball history will find this book well worth their time.

Where do I start? I guess the best thing to say is that this is a book for not just Yankee fans but for baseball fans everywhere. It's a wonderful journey into the history of the most stories franchise in baseball history. In fact while reading this book it is almost as if one can close their eyes and just imagine being there when the great Yankee Dynasty was born. Both Mr Steinberg and Mr Spatz have hit a home run with this book and if you buy only one book this year, I would recommend this one as a must have for your library!!!!!!!

One of th best written baseball books ever.

A lot great baseball history. I don't know why the book ended when the Kindle listed many more pages to read. Still, I loved the read.

More terrific baseball history from Steinberg and Spatz, authors of the award-winning "1921." These guys do prodigious research and generate prose that carries the reader along easily from start to finish. "The Colonel and Hug" is a long-overdue examination of the crucial relationship between Col. Jacob Ruppert and Miller Huggins, the owner and manager who in the 1920s transformed the New York Yankees into baseball's premiere franchise. Must reading for anybody interested in the Yankees, baseball history, or just a grand baseball story.

Fascinating story about these two historic people. It is amazing that so little has been written about both Miller Huggins and Jacob Ruppert. This book is well researched and written, and I think just scratches the surface of their lives. The Coronel's desire and expectation to win every year is so reminiscent of the Boss, George Steinbrenner. Just amazing how similar their goals. I would enjoy reading more about them.

If you read one book this year, this should be it.Fascinating story how one man build the New York Yankees from nothing to what they are today and at the same time hired 4 men whoall went to Cooperstown as Hall of Famers with him joining the Hall in 2013.Also great story of America and baseball starting in 2015 when he bought the Yankees till the time of his death in 1939.

Loved the book but was surprised that I reached the end at 41% according to my Kindle reader. The remaining 59% was footnotes. Number of pages is much less than advertised.