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www.ambiente.us JULY| JULIO 2010
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies at 80
New York, July 13, 2010... George Steinbrenner, who rebuilt the New York Yankees into
a sports empire with a mix of bluster and big bucks that polarized fans all across
America, died Tuesday. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday July 4.
Steinbrenner had a heart attack, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and
died at about 6:30 a.m, a person close to the owner told The Associated Press. The
person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed those
details.
His death 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.
For more than 30 years, Steinbrenner lived up to his billing as "the Boss," a nickname
he earned and clearly enjoyed as he ruled with an iron fist. While he lived in Tampa he
was a staple on the front pages of New York newspapers.
"He was an incredible and charitable man," his family said in a statement. "He was a
visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and
turned it into a champion again."
Steinbrenner had Chicago connections: Early in his sports career, Steinbrenner was
an assistant football coach for Northwestern in 1955 and '56. In 1987, Balmoral Park
was sold to Steinbrenner's family and a group of local track
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies at 80
New York, July 13, 2010... George Steinbrenner, who rebuilt the New York Yankees into
a sports empire with a mix of bluster and big bucks that polarized fans all across
America, died Tuesday. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday July 4.
Steinbrenner had a heart attack, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and
died at about 6:30 a.m, a person close to the owner told The Associated Press. The
person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not disclosed those
details.
His death 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.
For more than 30 years, Steinbrenner lived up to his billing as "the Boss," a nickname
he earned and clearly enjoyed as he ruled with an iron fist. While he lived in Tampa he
was a staple on the front pages of New York newspapers.
"He was an incredible and charitable man," his family said in a statement. "He was a
visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and
turned it into a champion again."
Steinbrenner had Chicago connections: Early in his sports career, Steinbrenner was
an assistant football coach for Northwestern in 1955 and '56. In 1987, Balmoral Park
was sold to Steinbrenner's family and a group of local track
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operators headed by Billy Johnston and his sons John and Duke.
"The passing of George Steinbrenner marks the end of an era in New York City baseball
history," rival Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz said. "George was a larger
than life figure and a force in the industry. The rise and success of his teams on the field
and in the business marketplace under his leadership are a testament to his skill, drive,
and determination."
Steinbrenner was known for feuds, clashing with Yankees great
Yogi
Berra and hiring manager Billy Martin five times while repeatedly
fighting with him. But as his health declined, Steinbrenner let sons
Hal and Hank run more of the family business.
Steinbrenner was in fragile health for years, resulting in fewer public appearances and
pronouncements. Yet dressed in his trademark navy blue blazer and white turtleneck, he
was the model of success: In addition to the World Series titles, the Yankees won 11
American League pennants and 16 AL East titles after his reign began in 1973.
"Few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than
George Steinbrenner," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "George had a deep
love for New York, and his steely determination to succeed combined with his deep
respect and appreciation for talent and hard work made him a quintessential New Yorker."
He appeared at the new Yankee Stadium just four times: for the 2009 opener, the first two
games of last year's World Series and this year's homer opener, when captain Derek Jeter
and manager Joe Girardi went to his suite and personally delivered his seventh World
Series ring.
"He was very emotional," said Hal Steinbrenner, his father's successor as managing
general partner.
"The passing of George Steinbrenner marks the end of an era in New York City baseball
history," rival Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz said. "George was a larger
than life figure and a force in the industry. The rise and success of his teams on the field
and in the business marketplace under his leadership are a testament to his skill, drive,
and determination."
Steinbrenner was known for feuds, clashing with Yankees great
Yogi
Berra and hiring manager Billy Martin five times while repeatedly
fighting with him. But as his health declined, Steinbrenner let sons
Hal and Hank run more of the family business.
Steinbrenner was in fragile health for years, resulting in fewer public appearances and
pronouncements. Yet dressed in his trademark navy blue blazer and white turtleneck, he
was the model of success: In addition to the World Series titles, the Yankees won 11
American League pennants and 16 AL East titles after his reign began in 1973.
"Few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than
George Steinbrenner," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "George had a deep
love for New York, and his steely determination to succeed combined with his deep
respect and appreciation for talent and hard work made him a quintessential New Yorker."
He appeared at the new Yankee Stadium just four times: for the 2009 opener, the first two
games of last year's World Series and this year's homer opener, when captain Derek Jeter
and manager Joe Girardi went to his suite and personally delivered his seventh World
Series ring.
"He was very emotional," said Hal Steinbrenner, his father's successor as managing
general partner.
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Till the end, Steinbrenner demanded championships. He barbed Joe Torre during the
2007 AL playoffs, then let the popular manager leave after another loss in the opening
round. The team responded last year by winning another title.
Steinbrenner had fainted at a memorial service for NFL star Otto Graham in 2003,
appeared weak in 2006 at the groundbreaking for the new Yankee Stadium and later
became ill while watching his granddaughter in a college play.
In recent times, Steinbrenner let sons Hal and Hank run more of the family business. Still,
the former Big Ten football coach took umbrage when others questioned his fitness.
"No, I did not have a stroke. I am not ill. I work out daily," Steinbrenner said in 2006. "I'd like
to see people who are saying that to come down here and do the workout that I do."
When Steinbrenner headed a group that bought the team on Jan. 3, 1973, he promised
absentee ownership. But it didn't turn out that way.
Steinbrenner not only clashed with Berra for more than a decade but paid to dig up dirt on
Dave Winfield, deriding the future Hall of Famer as "Mr. May" in 1985 after poor
performances. Berra's wife, Carmen, said Tuesday her husband was at a golf event in
Pennsylvania and was expected to comment later in the day.
While he liked to appear stern, Steinbrenner could poke fun at himself. He hosted
"Saturday Night Live," clowned with Martin in a commercial and chuckled at his
impersonation on "Seinfeld."
He gave millions to charity, often with one stipulation, that no one be told who made the
donation.
The Yankees paid off for him, too, with their value increasing more than 100-fold from the
$8.7 million net price his group paid in January 1973. He freely spent his
2007 AL playoffs, then let the popular manager leave after another loss in the opening
round. The team responded last year by winning another title.
Steinbrenner had fainted at a memorial service for NFL star Otto Graham in 2003,
appeared weak in 2006 at the groundbreaking for the new Yankee Stadium and later
became ill while watching his granddaughter in a college play.
In recent times, Steinbrenner let sons Hal and Hank run more of the family business. Still,
the former Big Ten football coach took umbrage when others questioned his fitness.
"No, I did not have a stroke. I am not ill. I work out daily," Steinbrenner said in 2006. "I'd like
to see people who are saying that to come down here and do the workout that I do."
When Steinbrenner headed a group that bought the team on Jan. 3, 1973, he promised
absentee ownership. But it didn't turn out that way.
Steinbrenner not only clashed with Berra for more than a decade but paid to dig up dirt on
Dave Winfield, deriding the future Hall of Famer as "Mr. May" in 1985 after poor
performances. Berra's wife, Carmen, said Tuesday her husband was at a golf event in
Pennsylvania and was expected to comment later in the day.
While he liked to appear stern, Steinbrenner could poke fun at himself. He hosted
"Saturday Night Live," clowned with Martin in a commercial and chuckled at his
impersonation on "Seinfeld."
He gave millions to charity, often with one stipulation, that no one be told who made the
donation.
The Yankees paid off for him, too, with their value increasing more than 100-fold from the
$8.7 million net price his group paid in January 1973. He freely spent his
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money, shelling out huge amounts for Jeter, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Torre and
others in hopes of yet another title.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing," Steinbrenner was fond of
saying. "Breathing first, winning next."
All along, he envisioned himself as a true Yankee Doodle Dandy. It was fitting: George
Michael Steinbrenner III was born on the Fourth of July, in 1930.
Added up, he joined the likes of Al Davis, Charlie O. Finley, Bill Veeck, George Halas, Jack
Kent Cooke and Jerry Jones as the most recognized team owners in history.
Besides being an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue in the 1950s,
Steinbrenner was part of the group that bought the Cleveland Pipers of the American
Basketball League in the 1960s.
"A lot of people didn't like him, but I liked him," former Yankee Tim Raines said. "He
respected me as a player and I respected him for being the Boss. He always talked to me
about his football days because he knew I played football."
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.
To many, though, the Yankees and Steinbrenner were synonymous.
His fans applauded his win-at-all-costs style. His detractors blamed him for spiraling
salaries and wrecking baseball's competitive balance.
Steinbrenner never managed a game, as Ted Turner once did when he owned the Atlanta
Braves, but he controlled everything else. When he thought the club's parking lot was too
crowded, Steinbrenner stood on the pavement -- albeit behind
others in hopes of yet another title.
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing," Steinbrenner was fond of
saying. "Breathing first, winning next."
All along, he envisioned himself as a true Yankee Doodle Dandy. It was fitting: George
Michael Steinbrenner III was born on the Fourth of July, in 1930.
Added up, he joined the likes of Al Davis, Charlie O. Finley, Bill Veeck, George Halas, Jack
Kent Cooke and Jerry Jones as the most recognized team owners in history.
Besides being an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue in the 1950s,
Steinbrenner was part of the group that bought the Cleveland Pipers of the American
Basketball League in the 1960s.
"A lot of people didn't like him, but I liked him," former Yankee Tim Raines said. "He
respected me as a player and I respected him for being the Boss. He always talked to me
about his football days because he knew I played football."
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.
To many, though, the Yankees and Steinbrenner were synonymous.
His fans applauded his win-at-all-costs style. His detractors blamed him for spiraling
salaries and wrecking baseball's competitive balance.
Steinbrenner never managed a game, as Ted Turner once did when he owned the Atlanta
Braves, but he controlled everything else. When he thought the club's parking lot was too
crowded, Steinbrenner stood on the pavement -- albeit behind
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a van, out of sight -- and had a guard personally check every driver's credential.
Steinbrenner made no apologies for bombast and behavior, even when it cost him dearly.
He served two long suspensions: He was banned for 2 1/2 years for paying self-described
gambler Howie Spira to dig up negative information about Winfield, and for 15 months
following a guilty plea in federal court for conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions
during the Watergate era.
"I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been
successful," Steinbrenner said in 2005. "But I know that I have
tried."
Steinbrenner negotiated a landmark $486 million, 12-year cable television contract with the
Madison Square Garden Network in 1988 and launched the Yankees' own YES Network for
the 2002 season.
All that cash, the Yankees later became the first team with a $200 million payroll, provoked
anger and envy among other owners. After the 1982 season, Baltimore owner Edward
Bennett Williams said Steinbrenner hoarded outfielders "like nuclear weapons."
When Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, he insisted he was too busy with his family's
shipbuilding business to take an active role in running the club. As his partners soon found
out, that wasn't quite the case.
"There is nothing quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner's," one
of them, John McMullen, said later.
Overall, he changed managers nearly two dozen times and got rid of more than a dozen
general managers. When a Yankees' public relations man went home to Ohio for the
Christmas holiday, then returned in a hurry for a news conference to announce David
Cone's re-signing, Steinbrenner fired him.
Steinbrenner made no apologies for bombast and behavior, even when it cost him dearly.
He served two long suspensions: He was banned for 2 1/2 years for paying self-described
gambler Howie Spira to dig up negative information about Winfield, and for 15 months
following a guilty plea in federal court for conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions
during the Watergate era.
"I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been
successful," Steinbrenner said in 2005. "But I know that I have
tried."
Steinbrenner negotiated a landmark $486 million, 12-year cable television contract with the
Madison Square Garden Network in 1988 and launched the Yankees' own YES Network for
the 2002 season.
All that cash, the Yankees later became the first team with a $200 million payroll, provoked
anger and envy among other owners. After the 1982 season, Baltimore owner Edward
Bennett Williams said Steinbrenner hoarded outfielders "like nuclear weapons."
When Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, he insisted he was too busy with his family's
shipbuilding business to take an active role in running the club. As his partners soon found
out, that wasn't quite the case.
"There is nothing quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner's," one
of them, John McMullen, said later.
Overall, he changed managers nearly two dozen times and got rid of more than a dozen
general managers. When a Yankees' public relations man went home to Ohio for the
Christmas holiday, then returned in a hurry for a news conference to announce David
Cone's re-signing, Steinbrenner fired him.
After Steinbrenner fired Berra as manager 16 games into the 1985 season, the Hall of
Famer vowed he wouldn't go to back to Yankee Stadium for a game until Steinbrenner
apologized 14 years later.
On one pressure-filled night in 1982, reliever Goose Gossage let loose and called
Steinbrenner "the fat man." And in 1978, Martin said of Jackson and Steinbrenner: "The two
of them deserve each other -- one's a born liar, the other's convicted."
There was no denying the results, however.
When Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, they had gone eight seasons without finishing in
first place, their longest drought since Babe Ruth & Co. won the team's first pennant in
1921.
Under Steinbrenner, the Yankees reached the World Series on 10 occasions and won
three straight championships from 1998-2000. Those titles started a run in which the
Yankees won the AL East crown every season through 2006.
"We've disagreed on more things than we agreed upon, but it never affected our personal
relationship," commissioner Bud Selig said in 2005. "George has been a very charismatic,
controversial owner. But look, he did what he set out to do -- he restored the New York
Yankees franchise."
Former AL president Gene Budig sometimes was on the wrong end of Steinbrenner's
barbs. After he left office, Budig maintained a friendship with him and even advocated
Steinbrenner getting into the Hall of Fame.
Steinbrenner liked to quote military figures and saw games as an extension of war. No
surprise that in the tunnel leading from the Yankees' clubhouse to the field, he had a sign
posted with a saying from Gen. Douglas MacArthur: "There is no substitute for victory."
Steinbrenner also had a soft side.
Famer vowed he wouldn't go to back to Yankee Stadium for a game until Steinbrenner
apologized 14 years later.
On one pressure-filled night in 1982, reliever Goose Gossage let loose and called
Steinbrenner "the fat man." And in 1978, Martin said of Jackson and Steinbrenner: "The two
of them deserve each other -- one's a born liar, the other's convicted."
There was no denying the results, however.
When Steinbrenner bought the Yankees, they had gone eight seasons without finishing in
first place, their longest drought since Babe Ruth & Co. won the team's first pennant in
1921.
Under Steinbrenner, the Yankees reached the World Series on 10 occasions and won
three straight championships from 1998-2000. Those titles started a run in which the
Yankees won the AL East crown every season through 2006.
"We've disagreed on more things than we agreed upon, but it never affected our personal
relationship," commissioner Bud Selig said in 2005. "George has been a very charismatic,
controversial owner. But look, he did what he set out to do -- he restored the New York
Yankees franchise."
Former AL president Gene Budig sometimes was on the wrong end of Steinbrenner's
barbs. After he left office, Budig maintained a friendship with him and even advocated
Steinbrenner getting into the Hall of Fame.
Steinbrenner liked to quote military figures and saw games as an extension of war. No
surprise that in the tunnel leading from the Yankees' clubhouse to the field, he had a sign
posted with a saying from Gen. Douglas MacArthur: "There is no substitute for victory."
Steinbrenner also had a soft side.
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Following his discharge, he enrolled at Ohio State, pursuing a master's degree in physical
education. It was his intention to go into coaching, but after working at a high school in
Columbus and at Purdue and Northwestern, he turned to the business world.
Steinbrenner married Elizabeth Zieg in 1956 and they had four children.
In 1963, Steinbrenner purchased Kinsman Transit Co., a fleet of lake ore carriers, from his
family and built a thriving company. Four years later, Steinbrenner and associates took over
American Shipbuilding and revitalized the company, helping annual revenues triple.
It was in Cleveland that Steinbrenner met veteran baseball executive Gabe Paul and
became involved with the group that bought the Yankees. With 13 partners, Steinbrenner
purchased the team from CBS Inc.
He clearly liked the status it gave him.
"When you're a shipbuilder, nobody pays any attention to you," he said. "But when you own
the New York Yankees ... they do, and I love it."
Steinbrenner quickly worked to reshape the team he loved as a boy. With that, the Bronx
Zoo days began.
It was while he was under suspension that the Yankees ushered in baseball's new
free-agent era by signing Catfish Hunter to a $3.75 million contract. Even though he was
officially barred from participating in the daily operation of the team, no one believed that
Steinbrenner was not involved in that deal.
Hunter was the first player to cash in on baseball's new economic structure and no owner
plunged into the marketplace more than Steinbrenner. He saw it as an opportunity to
assemble quality players and was one of the biggest buyers.
education. It was his intention to go into coaching, but after working at a high school in
Columbus and at Purdue and Northwestern, he turned to the business world.
Steinbrenner married Elizabeth Zieg in 1956 and they had four children.
In 1963, Steinbrenner purchased Kinsman Transit Co., a fleet of lake ore carriers, from his
family and built a thriving company. Four years later, Steinbrenner and associates took over
American Shipbuilding and revitalized the company, helping annual revenues triple.
It was in Cleveland that Steinbrenner met veteran baseball executive Gabe Paul and
became involved with the group that bought the Yankees. With 13 partners, Steinbrenner
purchased the team from CBS Inc.
He clearly liked the status it gave him.
"When you're a shipbuilder, nobody pays any attention to you," he said. "But when you own
the New York Yankees ... they do, and I love it."
Steinbrenner quickly worked to reshape the team he loved as a boy. With that, the Bronx
Zoo days began.
It was while he was under suspension that the Yankees ushered in baseball's new
free-agent era by signing Catfish Hunter to a $3.75 million contract. Even though he was
officially barred from participating in the daily operation of the team, no one believed that
Steinbrenner was not involved in that deal.
Hunter was the first player to cash in on baseball's new economic structure and no owner
plunged into the marketplace more than Steinbrenner. He saw it as an opportunity to
assemble quality players and was one of the biggest buyers.
| . |
For the first five years of the free agency, Steinbrenner signed 10 players at an approximate
cost of $38 million. Steinbrenner's $18.2 million, 10-year deal with Winfield was the richest
free agent contract in history.
During those days, Yankee Stadium underwent a $100 million facelift and reopened in
1976. That year, the Yankees won the AL pennant, but got swept in the World Series by
Cincinnati's Big Red Machine.
The Yankees surged back to win the World Series championship in 1977 and 1978 and
the AL pennant in 1981.
While the Yankees' roster continually changed, so did the team's front office. Managers
were hired and fired at a dizzying pace, with Martin often in the middle.
The one constant, for most of Steinbrenner's time, was winning.
Steinbrenner once was asked his formula for success. He said: "Work as hard as you ask
others to. Strive for what you believe is right, no matter the odds. Learn that mistakes can
be the best teacher."
In addition to his sons, Steinbrenner is survived by his wife, Joan, daughters Jennifer and
Jessica and 13 grandchildren.
Copyright © Chicago Tribune & MBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
cost of $38 million. Steinbrenner's $18.2 million, 10-year deal with Winfield was the richest
free agent contract in history.
During those days, Yankee Stadium underwent a $100 million facelift and reopened in
1976. That year, the Yankees won the AL pennant, but got swept in the World Series by
Cincinnati's Big Red Machine.
The Yankees surged back to win the World Series championship in 1977 and 1978 and
the AL pennant in 1981.
While the Yankees' roster continually changed, so did the team's front office. Managers
were hired and fired at a dizzying pace, with Martin often in the middle.
The one constant, for most of Steinbrenner's time, was winning.
Steinbrenner once was asked his formula for success. He said: "Work as hard as you ask
others to. Strive for what you believe is right, no matter the odds. Learn that mistakes can
be the best teacher."
In addition to his sons, Steinbrenner is survived by his wife, Joan, daughters Jennifer and
Jessica and 13 grandchildren.
Copyright © Chicago Tribune & MBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source