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It is with sad news and a heavy heart that I write this.In a statement released from the Steinbrenner family, George M. Steinbrenner III passed away at 6:30 a.m. this morning as a result of a massive heart attack suffered late last night. He was 80 years old. The Principal Owner of the New York Yankees, he changed the way baseball, if not all of sports, was operated.
“It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing,” the Steinbrenner family in a statement said. “He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80. He was an incredible and charitable man. First and foremost he was devoted to his entire family – his beloved wife, Joan; his sisters, Susan Norpell and Judy Kamm, his children, Hank, Jennifer, Jessica and Hal; and all of his grandchildren. 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.”
George M. Steinbrenner III was born on July 4, 1930 in Rocky River, Ohio to Henry and Rita Steinbrenner and was the youngest of three children. He lived in a very strict household that demanded discipline. While growing up in Cleveland and attending Cleveland Indians' games, Steinbrenner was a New York Yankees fan. After Steinbrenner received his Master's Degree from Ohio State, he worked as a high school and college football coach before eventually going to business school. In 1957, Steinbrenner joined Kinsman Marine Transit Company, a Great Lakes shipping company owned by his father, and worked to improve the company which was suffering from difficult market conditions. George helped emphasize shipments over ore, and helped Kinsman return to glory and soon took over and made his money as chairman of the American Shipbuilding Company, which was based in Cleveland.
It was in 1960 however, the Steinbrenner got himself involved in professional sports. Steinbrenner purchased the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League. The Pipers, under Steinbrenner's rule, won the ABL Championship during the 1961-62 season. However, the ABL collapsed during 1962, and Steinbrenner lost the Pipers.
In 1963, Steinbrenner purchased Kinsman Marine Transit Co. In 1968, he and his associates took over American Shipbuilding and made it larger than life, tripling annual revenues.
Though he made his profits and fame from shipbuilding, Steinbrenner still wanted to be a part of the sports world. In 1971, Steinbrenner offered $9 million to Cleveland Indians' owner Vernon Stouffer. Stouffer rejected Steinbrenner's offer and in turn sold the club to Nick Mileti in 1972 for $10 million. This wouldn't keep George from trying to purchase a franchise. Steinbrenner's failed attempt of purchasing the Indians would be the greatest event to happen to sports, and forever changed the course of history.
In 1965, Columbia Broadcasting System, CBS, took over as the owners of the New York Yankees. The Yankees struggled under CBS ownership and in 1972, CBS Chairman William S. Paley declared the team for sale. After losing the Cleveland Indians' bid, George Steinbrenner became increasingly interested. Steinbrenner, who had grown up a Yankees fan and was always respectful of the Yankees' rich tradition and history, put himself into the running to purchase the franchise. On January 3, 1973 Steinbrenner and partners Michael E. Burke, Lester Crown, John DeLorean, and Nelson Bunker Hunt purchased the Yankees from CBS for $8.7 million. Steinbrenner's purchase of the Yankees would change baseball and sports history forever.Upon his purchase, Steinbrenner promised a championship in three years and that he wouldn't be too involved with the organization. However, from history we know that this was not the case.
Steinbrenner involved himself in the Yankees organization and was nicknamed "the Boss," a role which fitted him perfectly.
"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."
His career as an owner was marked with controversy, scandal, free agents, vast amounts of money, charity, and most importantly: Winning.
"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."
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing," Steinbrenner often said when interviewed. "Breathing first, winning next."
The Boss had no tolerance for failure. If the Yankees did not win a
World Championship, the season was declared a failure. The Boss' mantra has echoed through to the Yankees teams of today: Once a World Championship has been won, enjoy it, but start getting to work to defend it and win it again next year. Under Steinbrenner's reign, the Yankees:- Won seven World Series Championships (1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009)
- 11 American League Pennants (1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009)
- 9 straight American League East Divisions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) as well as 16 total.
- Made the playoffs 13 consecutive times from 1995-2007. (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Then there was Steinbrenner's other mantra: Spend, spend, spend. Steinbrenner was a large supporter of free agency. He handed out max contracts to pitcher Catfish Hunter and perhaps generated the most buzz in 1976 when he gave super-star outfielder Reggie Jackson a $3 million contract over five years. After Jackson's contract, baseball salaries would continue to go up, eventually leading to the salaries of today's players. For example, if it was not for George Steinbrenner's willingness to spend money on players to make the team better, players like Alex Rodriguez, third baseman for the Yankees, would not make as much as they do per season. Rodriguez holds the record, making $32 million per season. If it wasn't for Steinbrenner, salaries for not just baseball players, but athletes, would be nowhere near that amount.
In 1986, Steinbrenner signed a 12-year $500 million contract with Madison Square Garden Television to have their games carried on cable. It was a record television contract at the time and made the Yankees appear larger than life.
"You have to keep up with the times. Television has made it so that so much more is available to the public, competing for their viewership or their sports dollar and you've got to give the public what they want." - George Steinbrenner
In 2002, Steinbrenner created the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, YES. The network has since skyrocketed, becoming one of the nation's regional leading sports networks and costing an estimated billion dollars. The network broadcasts live Yankees games on a daily basis, as well as other sports shows such as Yankeeography, Center Stage, and Yankees On Deck. The network also broadcasts live games for the New Jersey Nets and features various shows on the Nets as well. The establishment of the YES Network further raised the value of the New York Yankees franchise.
Steinbrenner promoted the Yankees globally. He made pacts with other countries, such as Japan and the Yomiuri Giants, by signing Japanese baseball outfield star Hideki Matsui. The signing of Matsui made the Yankees a favorite team in Japan and helped globalize the organization. Steinbrenner also made the Yankees an active organization in the Caribbean, signing players from Latin countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Mexico. All over the globe, and all over the United States, Yankees merchandise could be found and can still be found.
"I do believe we are a global team. The Yankees are the biggest name in baseball, no matter what anybody else in baseball says." - George Steinbrenner
Steinbrenner was the first to poke fun at himself. He appeared on Saturday Night Live as well as the hit TV sitcom "Seinfeld," where he was made fun of on both shows. He was also in an 80's Miller Lite commercial with Billy Martin, where the two poked fun at each other, bickering on the beer's taste and with Steinbrenner eventually firing Martin again as the two laugh. To Steinbrenner it was all fun and games.
"Learn this: If you can't poke some fun at yourself, you're not a real man." - George Steinbrenner
In 2006, Steinbrenner and his closest associates, including sons Hank and Hal and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, discussed plans to build a brand new Yankee Stadium. The Stadium, which would be a state-of-the-art facility, would cost $1.5 billion to construct and would total out at $2.3 billion. On August 16, 2006 Steinbrenner, along with Bloomberg and his other advisers, would break ground for the New Yankee Stadium which would be built right across the street from the Old Yankee Stadium. Upon the ground breaking Steinbrenner said:
"We're just happy that we're able to do this for the Yankees," Steinbrenner said, "and happy to do it for you people. Enjoy the new stadium. I hope it's wonderful."
Towards the end of the 2006 season, Steinbrenner was not as much a part of the Yankees as he usually was. He spent more and more time in his home in Tampa, Florida than in New York. Towards the beginning of the 2008 season, Steinbrenner left the organization to be run by his sons Hank and Hal. Steinbrenner would take a back seat, but still would be the Principal Owner.
In 2008, the final year of the Old Yankee Stadium, Steinbrenner appeared at the All-Star Game, which was hosted in New York as a tribute to the final year at the Cathedral of Baseball. Steinbrenner appeared as an image of his former self: ill, pale, and tired, as well as having to be carted onto the field by a Yankee Stadium worker to home plate. The Boss was truly not the fearsome lion that he once was.
To honor The Boss, the Yankees re-named Legends Field, their Spring Training complex in Tampa, Florida to George M. Steinbrenner Field. There is also a high school named after Steinbrenner in Tampa. The area of Tampa has been extremely grateful for all of Steinbrenner's deeds to help the area.
Prior to the 2009 season, The Boss gave full control of the organization to his youngest son Hal. While The Boss would still be involved with the Yankees, he entrusted Hal to run all baseball operations. It had been a well-known fact throughout baseball that The Boss' health was declining. Many were unsure how long Steinbrenner had left. The Yankees, under Steinbrenner and after him, were to remain in the Steinbrenner family.
2009 was the first season of the New Yankee Stadium. The Yankees, after an off season in which they spent almost $500 million dollars on three free agent super-stars (CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett), opened the Stadium with a loss of 10-2 to, ironically, the Cleveland Indians. However the Yankees turned it around, winning a league-best 103 games and finishing with the best record in baseball at 103-59. The Yankees would go on to win the World Series, the first in the new stadium, declaring that the 2009 Championship was for Steinbrenner himself. The New Yankee Stadium has often been called "The House that George Steinbrenner Built."
Steinbrenner was a true supporter of the game and was different from all other owners. Unlike some, Steinbrenner used his resources, whether it be his company, revenue, or pocket money in order to put the best product out on the field. Steinbrenner felt that New Yorkers deserved the best, and to be the best you have to use your resources. The Boss spent his money getting the best players to come to New York and spent his money to make the New York Yankees the greatest franchise in professional sports. His final accomplishment is his creation of the New Yankee Stadium.Today is a sad day for baseball and a sad day for the Yankee family. Just three days after famed announcer Bob Sheppard passed away, the Yankees lose the greatest owner in professional sports. The Boss changed the game, and made the Yankees the greatest and most successful franchise in sports. George went out on top, winning a World Series during the final year of his life.
Under George Steinbrenner's reign, the estimated Forbes cost of the New York Yankees is $1.6 billion. The Yankees are the first and only sports team to ever cost over a billion dollars.
Thank you, for everything you did to make watching the Yankees, and being a Yankee fan, a great experience Mr. Steinbrenner. You changed the game, and proved why the Yankees are the best organization in sports. You should be recognized in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Today being the day of the 81st All-Star Game in Anaheim, I would expect the baseball world to acknowledge you and thank you for all that you have done.
"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." - George Steinbrenner
Rest In Peace Boss.
Under George Steinbrenner, the following occurred:
- Steinbrenner changed managers 20 times during his first 23 seasons as owner.
- Steinbrenner was suspended for two years in 1974 for being a supporter of President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign. He was indicted on 14 criminal accounts for making illegal contributions. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn lowered the suspension to 15 months and Steinbrenner rejoined the team in 1976.
- In 1990 Steinbrenner was again suspended, this time permanently as owner of the Yankees by Commissioner Fay Vincent, for hiring gambler Howie Spira to dig up dirt on Yankees' outfielder Dave
Winfield after Winfield sued Steinbrenner for not paying for his foundation. Steinbrenner was later reinstated in 1993.- The Yankees won 7 World Series under Steinbrenner: 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009.
- The Yankees won 11 American League Pennants: 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009.
- The Yankees won the American League East every season from 1998-2006. There were 16 total East crowns.
- The Yankees made the playoffs every season from 1995-2007.
- The Yankees had a record of 3,364-2,583 under his tenure.
- The Yankees had a .566 winning percentage under his tenure.
- The Yankees were 114-46 in the postseason under his tenure.
- In 2002, the Boss created the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, YES. The network since has generated millions of dollars in ratings. The networks hosts various shows such as Center Stage, Yankeeography, Yankees On Deck and also broadcasts Yankees games. The network costs an estimated billion dollars.
- In 2006, Steinbrenner and his associates discussed the building of a brand new state-of-the-art Stadium for the Yankees. On August 16, 2006 Steinbrenner and his associates broke ground for the building of a New Yankee Stadium which would be worth $1.5 billion to construct. The Stadium was opened in 2009, ironically the same year the Yankees would win the World Series. It has since been known as "The House that George Steinbrenner Built."
- The estimated cost of the New York Yankees is $1.6 billion. The Yankees are the first sports franchise to ever cost over a billion dollars. Much of the reason is thanks to Steinbrenner.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg:“Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Steinbrenner family,” Bloomberg said in a released statement. “This is a sad day not only for Yankee fans, but for our entire City, as few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than George Steinbrenner. 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.
“George invested his heart and soul into the Yankees, and his competitive fire helped usher in new eras of Yankee greatness, reclaiming the team’s long tradition of excellence and its position as the most successful franchise in the history of American sports. He was a champion who made New York a better place, and who always gave back to the city he loved. He has left an indelible legacy on the Yankees, on baseball, and on our city, and he leaves us in the only way that would be appropriate: as a reigning world champion.”
Yankee Legend Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra:
"This is a very sad day for me and Carmen and all of baseball.
My sympathies go out to the Steinbrenner family. George was The Boss, make no mistake. He built the Yankees into champions and that’s something nobody can ever deny. He was a very generous, caring, passionate man. George and I had our differences, but who didn’t? We became great friends over the last decade and I will miss him very much."
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig:
"On behalf of Baseball, I am very saddened by the passing this morning of George Steinbrenner. George was a giant of the game and his devotion to baseball was surpassed only by his devotion to his family and his beloved New York Yankees. He was and always will be as much of a New York Yankee as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and all of the other Yankee legends.
I have known George ever since he entered the game in 1972. He was my dear friend for nearly four decades. Although we would have disagreements over the years, they never interfered with our friendship and commitment to each other. Our friendship was built on loyalty and trust and it never wavered. We were allies and friends in the truest sense of the words. My wife, Sue, and I pass on our deepest sympathies to the Steinbrenner family, to the New York Yankees and to all of his friends. We will miss him, especially tonight when the baseball family will be gathered at Angel Stadium for the All-Star Game."
Former Yankees' Coach and now Tampa Bay Rays adviser Don Zimmer:
“I would prefer to remember him just as he was the first time I met him. I was managing the Red Sox and sitting in the dugout several hours before a game at Yankee Stadium. He was on the mound in a white shirt pitching batting practice to his son. A father throwing to his son, his impact on the game is impossible to measure. If you were a Yankee fan there was no better owner because he would do anything at any cost to put the best team on the field."
Boston Red Sox owner John Henry:
“I had the good fortune to call George Steinbrenner both partner and friend. I had the privilege to watch George as he built a system that ensured his beloved Yankees would have a strong foundation for sustained excellence. And then we fiercely competed in the American League. George Steinbrenner forever changed baseball and hopefully some day we will see him honored in baseball’s Hall of Fame as one of the great figures in the history of sports.”
Boston Red Sox CEO and President Larry Lucchino:
"My respect for George went beyond the baseball field because of his sincere and longstanding commitment to charity, and to people in need. He had a giant heart, often well hidden from public view. Part of his legacy here in Boston will be the profound kindness he showed to numerous local philanthropic causes, especially as a regular and generous contributor each year to the Jimmy Fund of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.”
Former Yankees' and now Los Angeles Dodgers' Manager Joe Torre:
"I will always remember George Steinbrenner as a passionate man, a tough boss, a true visionary, a great humanitarian, and a dear friend. I will be forever grateful that he trusted me with his Yankees for 12 years. My heart goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed in New York, Tampa and throughout the world of baseball. It’s only fitting that he went out as a world champ.
A lot of the huff and puff and blow the house down, there was so much more to him than that. Going into the job, I certainly went in with my eyes wide open. We all witnessed what went on from day to day and how tough it was to work for this man. But I knew I was at a crossroads in my career and when I accepted the job – I never hesitated in accepting the job in ‘96 – he was a great guy to work for because all he wanted to do was win. And in doing that he certainly spent a lot of money. He felt a great obligation to the fans in New York. The players would gripe about him and I would gripe about him and all that – tried not to do it publicly – but all he wanted to do was win and that’s what the city of New York was all about.”
Yankees' Radio Announcer John Sterling:
“I’ve heard one million George Steinbrenner stories of things he did for people that would bring a tear to your eye. So he was a combination: Was he a tough boss? Boy, you bet he was. But he also had the softest side to him. In my own way, I really loved him. He took care of so many people in so many ways. I’m really very sad today, but he did phenomenal things for the Yankees.”
New York Giants Owner John Mara:
“The passing of George Steinbrenner leaves a significant void in the fabric of the sports world and New York City. The thoughts and prayers of our organization are with the Steinbrenner and Yankees families. George’s energy and his commitment and devotion to the Yankees were unmatched, and he was as generous and charitable a person as has ever been in sports. His was a unique, special and unforgettable presence.”
New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson:
“George Steinbrenner is an American icon and was one of the preeminent owners in all of sports. A true champion with his own unique style, he held his team to the highest standards and demanded a title for Yankees fans each and every season. I will remember him as a winner whose passion and enthusiasm became part of the fabric of New York City. He was an inspiration and represented the essence of leadership.”
Yankees' Pitcher Andy Pettitte:
“He would (challenge you). For me, getting a little personal – George used to hand me bible verses before some of my playoff starts. He was tough, but he was always there to support you. He was always good to be around. He was tough. He was fair.
I feel like he's raised the bar around baseball for other teams to try to keep up and compete with what he was trying to put on the field every year.
We're all so fortunate and blessed to play in this organization. He gives us a chance to win every year and he gives us the best chance to win every year and as an athlete you appreciate that.
You think about, obviously, what he’s done for the game of baseball, but obviously with the loss, you think about what he’s done for you personally. You know, he just was great to me. He always was great to me my whole career during the good times, the bad times; his family has been great to me. I always had a great relationship with him. He was always good to be around. He was tough, but he was always fair and he was great to be around.”"
Yankees' Television Broadcaster Ken Singleton:
“George Steinbrenner was a legend, a once-in-a-lifetime figure. He had tremendous vision, and the sports landscape – not just the baseball landscape – will never be the same. He had an outsized personality. While I was playing with the Orioles, and later as a Yankees analyst, I witnessed first-hand the passion for winning he exhibited, and the way New Yorkers appreciated the resources he put into producing a championship team. We’ll never see another owner like him. I will always appreciate the opportunity Mr. Steinbrenner gave me to broadcast Yankee games. I will miss him dearly.”
Yankees' Captain and Shortstop Derek Jeter:
“(I’m) shocked, to say the least. I don’t know if you can put it into words. … I’ve known him since I was 18 years old. We were more friends than anything. We had bets on Ohio State-Michigan football games. I’ve been in trouble a couple of times. We’ve filmed commercials with him dancing. … It’s tough because he’s more than just an owner to me. He’s a friend and he’ll be deeply missed.
It goes back to the first time I ever met him down in the Gulf Coast League. I had just signed, and you know, he was this figure that’s larger-than-life. Yeah, I was a Yankee fan, so I was well aware of him and his reputation. He came up to me and talked to me by name. I was more shocked that he knew who I was, but I guess because he gave me some of his money, he had to know who I was. Right from that day he said, ‘We expect big things from you.’ I’ll always remember that, because first impressions, you never forget. He expects a lot."
(You can see the rest of Jeter's reflection on The Boss here)
Yankees' Manager Joe Girardi:
“It’s a difficult time. It’s a great day for baseball, the All-Star Game, something everyone looks to – and a great man has passed. I never really felt that his expectations were overbearing. I felt he just wanted what all of us wanted – to win.
I think winning the World Series meant a lot to him but the next day he was back to work. I really believe that he enjoyed it but he stayed the course all the time. We experienced that in 1996 and we were told that he was already planning for 1997 when they were planning the parade. I think he loved it and thought it was a true accomplishment but he never rested in it.”
Yankees' Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez:
“It's always a dream to have an opportunity to play for an owner like George Steinbrenner, unlike Andy I came up in another organization. The opportunity to play for The Boss and his family was something that was second to none. He's a man that has more passion than anyone and was really passionate about his game and for many many years, spent the most money to try to bring the best players in the world to play for his organization.
In ‘04, he wrote me a handwritten wrote and it was hand-delivered by a clubhouse kid … (It said) ‘I’m counting on you’ – with capital letters and exclamation point. … And I hold this dear. We’re still playing for him.
His legacy will live forever and I think that Stadium is one big sign of how great this man was.”
New York Governor David Paterson:
“Opposing players and fans may have bristled at his outspoken leadership over the years, but it was only because they wished they had a Steinbrenner of their own. Mr. Steinbrenner passing comes on the morning of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, a contest dedicated to the fans and to the glory of the game. This is a fitting tribute, as Mr. Steinbrenner was one of the last owners who felt as much loyalty and kinship with his fans as they felt with his team. So as Americans gather this evening to watch baseball’s best — including six of his Yankees — I hope we all take a moment to remember the life and legacy of George Steinbrenner: the owner; the businessman; the husband and father; the Boss. On behalf of a grateful city and State, I wish comfort during this difficult time to Mr. Steinbrenner’s wife, Elizabeth, and children, Hank, Hal, Jessica and Jennifer. He will truly be missed.”
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As The Boss once said, and ironically enough:
"I will never have a heart attack. I give them."
Rest In Peace.
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