Today marks eight years since one of the hardest day in recent memory for Yankee fans. On the morning of the 2010 All Star Game, The Boss passed away at 80-years-old due to a heart attack. His death came nine days after his 80th birthday, two days after the passing of long time stadium announcer Bob Sheppard, and eight days before former manager Ralph Houk. The team would wear a commemorative patch on the left breast of their home and road uniforms to go along with Sheppard’s patch on the left arm that season. He was laid to rest at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Trinity, Florida.
CBS had acquired the Yankees in 1965, and the team had been struggling under their ownership. In 1972, CBS Chairman William Paley told team president E. Michael Burke that they were planning on selling the team. The Boss, who had tried unsuccessfully to buy the Cleveland Indians one year earlier, and minority partner Burke led a group of investors and bought the team from CBS. Thus the Steinbrenner era was born.
The Boss quickly became famous for his high turnover rate of managers. In his first 23 seasons at the helm, he changed managers 20 times. Billy Martin alone was fired and rehired five times. He also went through 11 general managers over 30 years. Another notable Steinbrenner policy, that still stands today, was his military style grooming code. All players, coaches, and executives were forbidden to grow any facial hair other than mustaches, and hair could not go below the collar.
“When the team was on the road, you’d come back to your hotel late at night, and if your phone light was on, you knew that either there had been a death in the family or George was looking for you. After a while, you started to hope that there had been a death in the family.” -Harvey Greene, Director of Media Relations (1986-1989)
He gave to many charitable causes throughout his life. In 1982, while attending the funeral of a police officer killed in the line of duty, he was deeply moved by the flag being folded military style and being presented to the officer’s wife. He was concerned about the children’s education and the expenses, so he established the Silver Shield Foundation. The foundation helps children of fallen police officers and firefighters with the cost of their education. A fund for each surviving child is set aside to help with tuition for prep school, undergraduate/graduate school, vocational and technical school, and tutoring services. He also often donated to the families of fallen police officers in the Tampa and New York City Police Departments.
“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.” -Yogi Berra
The Boss supported numerous individuals and charities, including the Boys and Girls Club as well as the Salvation Army. Mel Stottlemyre recalled that during his myeloma treatment he had mentioned in passing to Steinbrenner how he regretted not being able to watch Yankee games from his room. The Boss went all the way to then Mayor Rudy Giuliani to make sure Mel was able to watch the broadcasts from his room. He also donated $1 million to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital where a wing was named in his honor
He was immortalized in the show Seinfeld, being voiced by creator Larry David. Despite the over the top nature of the fictional Boss, he did things you could actually see the real Boss doing. He talked nonstop, regardless of whether anyone was listening, referred to himself as Big Stein, threatened to move the team to New Jersey “just to upset people”, scalped his owner’s box tickets, wore Lou Gehrig’s pants and canceled a meeting because he wanted George to get him an eggplant calzone.
“Who else could be a memorable character on a television show without actually appearing on the show? You felt George even though he wasn’t there. That’s how huge a force of personality he was.” -Jerry Seinfeld
From 2006 to his death, he spent most of his time in Tampa. After the 2007 season, he was in poor health and officially retired, giving control of the team to his sons Hank and Hal. Legends Field, the team’s Spring Training facility in Tampa, was renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field in March 2008 in his honor. In September 2010, a plaque standing 5 feet tall and 7 feet wide was erected in Monument Park. It reads:
Purchased the New York Yankees on January 3, 1973.
A true visionary who changed the game of baseball forever, he was considered the most influential owner in all of sports. In his 37 years as Principal Owner, the Yankees posted a Major League-best .566 winning percentage, while winning 11 American League pennants and seven World Series titles, becoming the most recognizable sports brand in the world. A devoted sportsman, he was Vice President of the United States Olympic Committee, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors and a member of the NCAA Foundation Board of Trustees. A great philanthropist whose charitable efforts were mostly performed without fanfare, he followed a personal motto of the greatest form of charity is anonymity.
Dedicated by the New York Yankees. September 20, 2010.
Despite his sometime irrational and erratic behavior, the team enjoyed success under his rule. He brought them back from the abyss of the dark days, and created another dynasty for a new generation of Yankee fans. His legacy in the game of baseball as a whole will never be matched. He was a fierce competitor, a cut throat businessman and a loose canon, but he was our Boss and we adored him. Rest in peace Boss.
“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.”
