As the season dwindles on the New York Yankees, so does the historical landmark in the Bronx that Babe Ruth built. Author of his current book Remembering Yankee Stadium, Harvey Frommer, known as “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” to many, takes readers and fans on an adventure from day one of construction to 26 World Series titles.

Remembering Yankee Stadium, which just came out this fall, takes readers back in time when the ballpark first opened in 1923 with the addition of 240 images. According to Frommer, it took a couple of years to complete the project, which was longer than a usual book. One of the many facts not widely known included some originally wanted the stadium to be called “Ruth Stadium.” Frommer was able to interview the 100-year old Bill Werber, who toured with the Yankees in 1927 to get the atmospheric experience only to feel left out among the older players—Werber eventually played two seasons for the Yankees and is currently the last surviving teammate of the Babe. As Frommer unveils first-hand account from players, managers, bat boys, and other authors, there is a balance in old and new information contained in Remembering Yankee Stadium and his other 38 books. As a historian, Frommer states the importance to inform the audience and unearth new information. He also discusses how credible sources become issues in his profession. For Frommer, the New York Times is his “Bible.”

Before becoming a prominent writer, Frommer grew up rooting for his beloved Yankees at the time when the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn and Giants in New York. As a young man, Frommer attended Dodger games to see Jackie Robinson play.

Frommer jokes, “My father would try to leave in the 7th inning to avoid the traffic.” Frommer worked as sports editor during high school and earned his Ph.D. in sports media and culture at New York University in 1974. After unsuccessful attempts to publish his dissertation in the early going, Frommer received a call from Irv Kaze, who became a mentor and friend to Frommer. This led to the launching of Baseball Century, celebrating the National League’s first hundred years. In his first year, he traveled with the Philadelphia Phillies. As baseball statistics grew over time with the birth of the Society for American Baseball Research group, which Frommer is a part of, sports writing has gone through a similar transition.

“The style has changed with the field becoming more competitive, but has also given way to more inferior writers. The internet has democratized a new generation of writers,” Frommer states. Dr. Frommer currently teaches oral history with his wife at Dartmouth University. In 2006, Major League Baseball recruited Frommer to be an expert in the case involving trademark infringement. This played a significant part to the use of the name “Washington Nationals,” previously known as the Montreal Expos.

As a journalist, Frommer also reaches out to fans through blogs. In a Washington Post blog from 2002, Frommer supported the idea to bring a baseball team back to Washington D.C. Six years later, Frommer stands by his word for it has been a positive asset to baseball, the fans, and the city. Frommer also stated that today baseball players are on the move at a frequent rate unlike the Cal Ripkens or Tony Gwynns.

“Uniformity in baseball is gone. For the marquee players to stay on their respective teams, it keeps the fan base at a high level. Unlike today, fans could keep up with their players,” claimed Frommer.

Frommer also agrees that former baseball players Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill were more recognized for their tenure with the Yankees than with their original teams.
85 years of Yankees baseball in the “House That Ruth Built” is just as long as the Bambino Curse for the rival Boston Red Sox. Frommer’s next project is headed eastward to Boston on Remembering Fenway Park. On Friday, September 26, Frommer will be giving a talk about Remembering Yankee Stadium at Mason’s Fall for the Book event. With this year’s All-Star game being a big hit in the Yankee Stadium finale, Frommer will always remember it for the PA announcer Bob Sheppard’s voice and the stadium evacuation on 9/11 as a rallying point for New Yorkers.