Fort Smith authors of ‘Pinstripe Defection’ garner national interest

The past few months have been exciting for Fort Smith banker Clay McKinney and attorney Jason Browning, with their book about the New York Yankees catching the interest of USA Today and other national media outlets.

“Pinstripe Defection” was published by McKinney and Browning in December, and is the story of a “Small Town Attorney’s Battle With The New York Yankees,” according to the book’s subtitle. The City Wire was one of the first media outlets to report on the book.

McKinney, a banker with Simmons First in Fort Smith, and Browning, a partner with the Fort Smith law firm of Warner Smith Harris, have been friends for years, with Browning mentioning on occasion an ongoing legal battle with the Yankees and MLB. In May 2007, Browning mentioned as an aside to McKinney that the Yankees matter had been settled. McKinney then felt comfortable asking Browning to explain the issue.

That explanation resulted in a story about a 29-year-old attorney and sports agent in Fort Smith finding himself representing Michel Hernandez in a case against the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball.

“As the case unfolded, Browning discovered new information that implicated the Yankees in not only Ricalde’s case, but also other underhanded deals involving other Cuban defectors. A handwritten letter and one type written detailed bribery and other money under-the-table deals,” noted McKinney’s explainer of the book.

In addition to USA Today, media outlets reporting on the book include NY Baseball Digest, WBAL (Baltimore), Sports Byline USA (nationally syndicated radio show based in San Francisco), and baseball website Fenway West.

Matt O'Donnell with Fenway West wrote: “The book reads like a John Grisham novel, even including a Southern lawyer, and gives you a behind the scenes look at the business of baseball as the case unfolds.”

During a recent interview, McKinney declined to talk about book sales, but said he is pleased with the feedback and media coverage. More than 20 outlets have reported on the book, including the USA Today report that began with this thought: “Facing the New York Yankees on the field is one thing, but dealing with the powerful franchise in the international arena and legal proceedings can be just as formidable — and eye-opening.”

Not surprising, McKinney said the Yankees organization and Major League Baseball have refused comment on the book, even when comments were solicited by USA Today.

And, according to McKinney, the book has resulted in opportunities for Browning to talk about the book. He spoke to a sports law class at the University of Arkansas and in June will be a featured speaker at the Arkansas Bar Association’s annual meeting. His session, “Baseball and the International Market,” follows Mike Leach, former head football coach at Texas Tech University.

McKinney said the most common response they get from the media is to inquire about their plans to turn the book into a movie.

“In regard to this, we have engaged a person familiar with the movie industry who has found a screenwriter for our project. It's still early in the process but hopefully, someday soon, you'll get to see ‘Pinstripe Defection’ on the big screen,” McKinney said.

The point is reinforced by Justin Bopp who, writing for Beyond the Boxscore, made this point: “I wonder if a good screen writer could turn this into a slightly more emotional and captivating tale, but I doubt he or she could make the Yankees' business process into a bigger villain.”