When Shea Was Home

Four teams, 175 games, 3,738,546 fans—one stadium. If 1975 wasn’t the most successful year in New York sports—and it wasn’t—then it was certainly one of the oddest. For that one crazy season, all four New York teams—the Mets, Jets, Yankees, and Giants—called Shea Stadium home.

When Shea was Home includes interviews with the stadium’s former head groundskeeper, the legendary Pete Flynn, as well as Jerry Koosman, Bud Harrelson and Ed Kranepool of the Mets, Giants owner John Mara, Rich Caster of the Jets, former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, who played that year at Shea for Grambling, and many more!

This well-written narrative includes information about the stadium, the teams, the players, how the teams coexisted, and how they didn't. When Shea was Home takes New York sports fans on a unique trip down memory lane, offering context on the national and local history and culture of the time. It is perfect for the avid New York sports aficionado—regardless of team allegiance!

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.

Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Brett Topel is a freelance sports writer and author of Simply the Best: The Story of the 1929–31 Philadelphia Athletics. He is also a professor of sports journalism at Adelphi University and the Director of Communications at Buckley Country Day School on Long Island.

“[Topel captures] the tragicomedy of four struggling clubs living cheek by jowl.”
—John Swansburg, New York Times

“When Shea Was Home is a fabulous book about one of the most unique years in New York sports history. It’s a great read for fans of all four teams and also gives readers a great perspective of what else was happening in the Big Apple that year.”
—Peter Schwartz, CBS New York

“This story of four teams, one stadium, and one year transcends the win-loss column. An engaging slice of sports history and popular culture.”
—Wes Lukowsky, Booklist

“Brett Topel establishes himself as the ultimate voice on one stadium and time period, weaving together the history of how four New York teams squeezed into Shea Stadium and New York sports history. It’s a home run and touchdown, all together.” —Adam Schefter, ESPN football reporter

“Pete Flynn drove the Beatles around Shea Stadium for their concert in 1965. Ten years later, Flynn was a rock star himself, and perhaps the MVP of New York sports. Brett Topel does a magnificent job detailing how Flynn kept the place playable and how 11368 was the capital of the New York sports world in 1975.” —Howie Rose, broadcaster, New York Mets; WOR Radio 710 AM New York

“The Beatles played at Shea Stadium twice. The Yankees played 162 games there, but no one seems to remember. Thanks Brett Topel for recalling the day the Yanks almost blew up the park with cannon fire. What a year that was.” —Marty Appel, author, Pinstripe Empire and Munson

“Interesting and informative read. I particularly enjoyed the back stories and side notes surrounding the events of the day.” —Jon Matlack, former New York Mets pitcher

“Brett Topel hits a home run—or scores a touchdown, depending on which chapter you’re reading—with this highly entertaining and thoroughly researched look at the circus-like year when four of New York’s beloved sports teams shared one facility. Very few sports books can successfully weave multiple compelling history lessons into one, and When Shea Was Home does that beautifully.” —Brian Fitzsimmons, sports editor, AOL.com; award-winning author, Celtic Pride: How Coach Kevin Boyle Took St. Patrick to the Top of High School Basketball