The Boss

“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.”

Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees in 1973, when he and a group of investors acquired the team from CBS for $10 million. On his watch, the Yanks won 11 American League pennants and captured seven World Series titles. He took the team from an AL has-been to a billion-dollar global enterprise, revolutionizing baseball economics along the way. For better or worse, the sport hasn’t been the same since Steinbrenner took over. This, too, despite one of the most understated introductions in baseball history. “We plan absentee ownership as far as running the Yankees is concerned,” George said nearly 40 years ago. “We’re not going to pretend we’re something we aren’t. I’ll stick to building ships".

I was aware of George Steinbrenner most of my life as my Grandfather was a devout Red Sox fan because he hated Steinbrenner so much and my father was always a die hard Yankees fan. I grew up in the era when Steinbrenner not only had the Yankees winning but was a funny character on one of the greatest shows ever Seinfeld. As a fan of baseball and the Yankees I was spoiled and grateful to have an owner that wanted to watch a winning team as much as I did and I could count on the fact that every Holiday season my team would land a big free agent or make a blockbuster trade that would keep us in the hunt for another postseason. Throughout my life the Yankees have been in the playoffs more than half of the years I have been alive including 5 World Series Titles and 7 World Series appearances. There is no other team that can say that. There will never be another Steinbrenner, another "Boss" the way that he was. He represented old school ethics with progressive business tactics that every other owner can only try to duplicate. He took an $8.7 million dollar investment and turned it into much more. I am glad I dont root for Pittsburgh or Cleveland where the owners keep Big Stein's money instead of reinvesting in their team. The Boss will be missed. The best, greatest owner that sports has ever known. Go Yankees!!!!