George M. Steinbrenner dies at the age of 80
George M. Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, died Tuesday at the age of 80. Steinbrenner passed away at his home in Tampa, Fla. His family and loved ones confirmed his passing in a statement issued by the New York Yankees organization.
"He was an incredible and charitable man," the family said in the 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."
This is perhaps what Steinbrenner is most known for: leading the storied franchise to prominence and winning seven World Series titles in the process.
Known as a man who did not shy away from spending huge amounts of money to sign players, no number was too big for Steinbrenner and he usually got the superstar baseball player he wanted in a Yankees uniform.
Few icons have had a bigger impact on New York and the city and its mayor Michael R. Bloomberg lowered flags in City Hall Plaza to honour Steinbrenner's achievements and pay respect to a man who has done so much for them.
Ever since Steinbrenner entered the game in 1972, he has adapted to the ever-changing world of baseball and his impact on the game will surely be missed for a long time.
"On behalf of Baseball, I am very saddened by the passing this morning of George Steinbrenner," said Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "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.
“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."
It might not have been always easy to please or get along with Steinbrenner. He was a demanding individual. In his first 23 seasons, he switched managers 20 times and hired and fired Billy Martin on five separate occasions.
This side of his personality was often portrayed in a comedic fashion on the television show Seinfeld. He also went through 11 general managers in 30 years.
This was nothing new from those who knew him best. You could say it was part of his DNA structure. He wanted and demanded the very best from those around him.
After having given so much to the New York Yankees, the franchise returned the favour by winning their 27th World Series title and first since 2000. The victory was dedicated to Steinbrenner eight months ago and they will be looking to give him another one next season.
"I think he's a father figure to everyone that was in our organization in the past or present, because he really took care of his players," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter. "Whether it was a player that's on the team now or someone that played for a week 30 years ago, he really went out of his way to take care of the players."
Look for the Yankees to continue in the direction Steinbrenner would have taken and acquire key players on the free-agency market to keep their dynasty in his memory. “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing," Steinbrenner once said. "Breathing first, winning second."
Tags: