Confessions of a She-Fan

by Jane Heller

  Sheffield’s accusation of racism and, 1, 2, 3

  Steinbrenner (George) and, 1

  Steinbrenner (Hank) and, 1

  superstitious behavior of, 1

  support for, 1

  Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Yankees games and, 1, 2, 3, 4

  thanks to fans, 1

  Toronto Blue Jays vs. Yankees games and, 1, 2, 3

  trust of team and, 1

  winning streak of, 1, 2

  Towers, Josh, 1, 2

  Townsend (Detroit hotel), 1

  Tropicana Field, 1

  Upton, B. J., 1, 2

  Valentine, Bobby, 1

  Varitek, Jason, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Veras, Jose, 1, 2

  Verlander, Justin, 1, 2

  Villone, Ron, 1, 2

  Vizcaino, Luis (“Viz”), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  “Vlad.” See Guerrero, Vladimir

  Wakefield, Tim, 1

  Waldman, Suzyn, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Wang, Chien-Ming, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

  WaterFire (Kansas City), 1

  Watson, Bob, 1

  Wedge, Eric, 1, 2, 3

  Wenzelberg, Charles, 1, 2, 3

  Westbrook, Jake, 1, 2, 3

  WFAN, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Wheeler, Dan, 1, 2

  Wheeler, Norman, 1

  Whitaker, Steve, 1, 2

  Wildfire in California, 1, 2, 3

  Williams, Bernie, 1

  Williams, Ted, 1

  Wilson, Enrique, 1

  Woods, Tiger, 1

  World Series (2007), 1

  Wright, Chase, 1, 2

  Wright, David, 1

  Yankee Stadium, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  Yastrzemski, Carl, 1

  YES Network, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  YES Web site, 1, 2

  Youkilis, Kevin, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Young, Delmon, 1

  Zaca Fire (wildfire), 1, 2, 3, 4

  Zaun, Gregg, 1

  Zillo, Jason, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

  Zumaya, Joe, 1

  Acknowledgments

  This book wouldn’t have happened if not for the constant nudging of my friend Marty Bell, who said I should either write about my baseball addiction or get over it already.

  It also wouldn’t have happened if not for my enablers in the sports section at the New York Times. Columnist Harvey Araton was kind enough to pass along my “divorce essay” to his editor, Tom Jolly, who published the essay and unwittingly set the book in motion.

  It wouldn’t have happened without the efforts of my longtime literary agent, Ellen Levine, who champions me no matter what cockamamie subject I’m writing about.

  Leigh Haber, my editor at Rod ale, skillfully and diplomatically helped me cut 600 pages of ramblings down to size. She encouraged me at every turn, and I am extremely grateful for her enthusiasm. Thanks, too, to her competent and always upbeat assistant, Meredith Quinn.

  Supportive friends Larry Brooks, Gary Paul Gates, Sandy and Doug McCartney, Kathy Sulkies, and Susan Tofias aided and abetted me in this venture, as did my sister, Susan Alexander, and my mother, Jocelyn Reznick.

  Thanks to Matt Silverman and Cass Halpin of the Tampa Bay Rays for their generosity and to the Players Association’s Gene Orza, who proved that chivalry is not dead.

  My loudest cheers go to the members of the Yankees media corps who took time out from their hectic schedules to share their thoughts about the team: Peter Abraham (the Journal News/LoHud.com), Mark Feinsand (New York Daily News), Tyler Kepner (the New York Times), George King (New York Post), Sweeny Murti (WFAN Radio), Kat O’Brien (Newsday), Jen Royle (MLB.com/YESNetwork.com), Charles Wenzelberg (New York Post), and especially John Sterling (WCBS Radio). Another round of cheers for Moss Klein (Newark Star-Ledger), who regaled me with tales from the Bronx is Burning years.

  I interviewed several baseball “She-Fans” for this book, and I regret that the final draft of my manuscript didn’t permit their inclusion. Thanks to Terry Lee Bilsky, Brenda Friend Brandt, Yvette Filce, Melodie Johnson Howe, and Kate Lagana for their insights.

  My husband, Michael Forester, came along on my journey to Yankeeville. For that and for many other heroic gestures, I thank him.

  Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher. Internet addresses and telephone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it went to press.

  © 2009 by Jane Heller

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

  Rodale books may be purchased for business or promotional use or for special sales. For information, please write to: Special Markets Department, Rodale Inc., 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

  Book design by Joanna Williams

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Heller, Jane.

  Confessions of a she-fan : the course of true love with the New York Yankees / Jane Heller.

  p. cm.

  Includes index.

  ISBN-13 978–1–59486–898–6 hardcover

  ISBN-10 1–59486–898–0 hardcover

  1. New York Yankees (Baseball team) 2. Heller, Jane. 3. Baseball fans—United States. I. Title.

  GV875.N4H44 2009

  796.357’64097471—dc22

  2008028360

  Distributed to the trade by Macmillan

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