Derek Jeter

May 15, 2011

This large-format book contains reprinted articles (many abridged) of New York Times coverage of Derek Jeter from 1992 (on his Yankee selection at age 17 in the amateur draft) through midseason 2010. The thematic arrangement prevents readers from tracking Jeter's career in one chronology. There is no article index by date for those seeking the single chronological approach. Even Chapter 1, "The Rookie," includes pieces written years after Jeter's MLB debut. Next are chapters on "The Athlete," "Seasons," "Postseasons," "Off the Field," "The Team," "Character of a Leader," and "Legend," plus three pages of Jeter's statistics. Tyler Kepner (national baseball reporter, New York Times) presents a biographical introduction as well as briefer lead-ins to each chapter's gathering of articles and color photos. The tone overall is admiring, with pieces driven by character and narrative rather than analysis or statistical interpretation. The impressive color photographs by an assortment of the paper's pros include iconic action shots and off-the-field snaps. VERDICT Sure to be popular in public libraries for avid Jeter fans, young and old, whether or not in the Yankee metro area. As a personal purchase, its value is chiefly as a coffee-table book of visual Jeter treats. For a thoroughgoing biography, consider Ian O'Connor's The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter.--Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal

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