Author Allen Barra at Words for Book Signing

The opening of the new Yankees stadium has been accompanied by a slew of books about the Yankees. Former Yankees manager Joe Torre put his pinstripe memories to print, and scandal-stirring scribes swiped at George Steinbrenner and A-Rod. One Yankee tome that shouldn't get lost in the shuffle despite its lack of controversy is South Orange resident Allen Barra's comprehensive account of the life of baseball's master of the malaprop, Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee.

The best-selling author takes his readers on a journey through Berra’s childhood, his days in the Navy, the championship years with the New York Yankees and everything that has come since. It includes commentary from countless baseball greats, such as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Elston Howard and Whitey Ford. A Publisher's Weekly review praised it for being both "comprehensive" and "incredibly engaging."

Barra is also the author of Clearing The Bases: The Greatest Baseball Debates of The Last Century; The Last Coach: A Life of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant; and Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends.

Barra will be at Words Bookstore  in Maplewood at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, for a talk and book signing.