'Steinbrenner' recalls Boss' wacky early years with Yankees

I didn't have enough space in the Friday paper to give proper due to "Steinbrenner," a new book from Bill Madden, a veteran baseball writer from a Manhattan-based tabloid.

The tales from the early years of the Boss' reign will be a nostalgic trip for fans of a certain age, and a shocking revelation to younger fans who only know the less-zany era that began with the arrival of Joe Torre.

There is relatively little in the book from the Torre era, but the stuff from the 1970s and '80s is priceless, amplified by recently discovered tapes made by Gabe Paul that offer new, behind-the-scenes insights into life under Steinbrenner.

Steinbrenner deserves praise for turning the Yankees into consistent winners and a hugely successful business and brand.

But the path to this point was raucous and rocky.