The Boss Dead at 80
by Scooter on 07/13/2010 in MLB News, Yankees Blogs
I was fortunate to grow up as a Yankees fan because of my dad. What I remember most about George Steinbrenner, was all the managers he fired and some multiple times. Steinbrenner had a winning attitude and his care for baseball and Yankee fans. The man changed baseball dramatically when it came to salaries. I know many fans outside of New York dislike what Steinbrenner did to baseball, but his philosophy was to win at any cost.
I remember when Steinbrenner hired Billy Martin 5 times after firing a whole bunch of times. It was truly entertaining, but it was George being the boss, and make no mistake about it, he was the boss.
Steinbrenner’s death on the day of the All-Star game was the second in three days to rock the Yankees. Bob Sheppard, the team’s revered public address announcer from 1951-07, died Sunday at 99.
He revolutionized the franchise—and sports—by starting his own television network and ballpark food company. Forbes now values the Yankees at $1.6 billion. Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973 for only $10 million.
Rudy Giuliani said it best:
“He was truly the most influential and innovative owner in all of sports,” former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said. “He made the Yankees a source of great pride in being a New Yorker.”
In 37-plus seasons as owner, Steinbrenner led the Yankees to seven World Series championships, 11 American League pennants and 16 AL East titles.
Other Facts:
He was an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue in the 1950s and was part of the group that bought the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League in the 1960s.
He was a vice president of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1989-96 and entered six horses in the Kentucky Derby, failing to win with Steve’s Friend (1977), Eternal Prince (1985), Diligence (1996), Concerto (1997), Blue Burner (2002) and the 2005 favorite, Bellamy Road.
R.I.P George Steinbrenner and Bob Sheppard, you will be truly missed!
Computer Tips
Jul 13th, 2010
Love him or hate him you have to respect what George accomplished. Like you, I grew up a Yankees fan and have a clear memory of the 1964 Series. And and even clearer memory of the dismal years the followed with the Yankee in the AL cellar year after year.
And then George took over the Yanks (only a small portion of that original $10 million was actually George’s money) and within a few years the Yanks were back where they belonged.
While people make a big deal about how George spent money, people tend to forget that Jeter, Posada, Petite and Riviera all came up through the Yankee farm system along with Bernie Williams who was their All Star center fielder for many years. So yes, George spent money but many of his best players came up through the Yankee system. George will be missed and will definitely have his monument along with the other Yankee greats.
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Commish
Jul 14th, 2010
Mike,
Amen brother – He was a winner and changed baseball in many ways.