New York City’s history is seldom as colorful as when viewed through a historic lens—and the Yankees fit the purpose nicely. In The 50 Greatest Players in New York Yankees History (Taylor Trade, June), Robert W. Cohen casts the glow of pinstripes over the city’s modern history. Yankees players, on possibly the world’s most recognizable sports organizations, may seem beyond ranking. Cohen does it, though, in his judging metric: a mix of career success, statistics, competitiveness of era, and (most importantly) level of domination. There are plenty of choices ripe for discussion, unsurprising considering the title of Cohen’s previous book: The Lean Years of the Yankees, 1965–1975. Names like Mel Stottlemyre and Bobby Murcer will either spark debate or befuddle—a litmus test for the diehard or the layman. Baseball enthusiasts will enjoy explanations of each era and recreations of the players’ historic moments. The Bronx Bombers are in town, playing the Mets today and the Boston Red Sox Friday and Saturday.