Legends in Pinstripes
October 2006 Reviewed by: Marc Mickelson Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

The 21st century hasn't been kind to America's pastime, what with a steroids scandal and ever-rising player salaries weakening the game's integrity. However, all of that is forgotten at the beginning of October, as the baseball divisional playoffs begin, commencing with the World Series. This is baseball's yearly cotillion, when the beauty and drama of the sport are on full display.

Barring some sort of cataclysmic breakdown, the New York Yankees will be vying for another World Series title this month. No team in baseball -- no franchise in all of professional sports -- has had the success of the Yankees. Driven by a seemingly endless roster of Hall of Famers, the Yanks were perennial title contenders throughout the first half of the 20th century. Arguably the three best-known Yankees -- Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle -- are covered in separate movies that make up the Legends in Pinstripes set. These three players' careers represent an uninterrupted period of excellence that lasted over 40 years and brought the Bronx Bombers 20 World Series titles.

What is most interesting about these hour-long films is their perspective. Missing are discussions of tension-filled games that led to heroic endings, big offensive seasons that ended in MVP awards, and the many championships. Instead, the filmmakers decided to focus on the men themselves, presenting each through archival footage and reminiscence from teammates, sportswriters, family and friends. Ruth and Mantle were gregarious and universally beloved. Both fought their off-the-diamond demons and died too young after prolonged illnesses.

In contrast, DiMaggio, who followed Ruth and preceded Mantle, was complex and aloof. He was more like today's athletes in his approach to fans and especially Yankee management, with whom he fought over his salary more than once. DiMaggio also had the most storied post-baseball life of the three. He married Marilyn Monroe, was divorced from her less than a year later, and had made plans to remarry her before she died. He cashed in on the memorabilia craze to an astounding degree and became a successful pitchman for banks and coffee makers. He was a New York City icon to the day he died.

The films are collages of disparate materials -- old newsreel footage and pictures mixed with contemporary interviews. It all looks good but a little soft, perhaps to heighten the feeling of nostalgia. The stereo sound fits the subject matter; surround sound is a gimmick for films like these, which are almost completely dialogue. None of the DVDs has extra features, a shame given the vast materials available on the three subjects and the Yankee organization.

Sports biographies that cover on-field accomplishments abound, but the three films that comprise Legends in Pinstripes are especially worthwhile because they capture the human side of three men who also happened to be baseball royalty. The game could use a boost from players like these today.

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