New York Icon : George ‘the Boss” Steinbrenner

George Michael Steinbrenner III was born July 4, 1930 is a businessman and owner and former principal executive of Major League Baseballs New York Yankees. His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries have made him one of the sport’s most controversial figures.Steinbrenner is known as a hands-on executive, earning the nickname “The Boss”. His tendency to meddle in daily on-field decisions, and to hire and fire and sometimes re-hire managers like Yankees skipper’s Billy Martin and Dallas Green .

The Yankees had been struggling during their years under CBS ownership, which had acquired the team in 1965. In 1972, CBS Chairman William S. Paley told team president E. Michael Burke the media company intended to sell the club. As Burke later told writer Roger Kahn, Paley offered to sell the franchise to Burke if he could find financial backing. Steinbrenner, who had participated in a failed attempt to buy the Cleveland Indians from Vernon Stouffer one year earlier, was brought together with Burke by veteran baseball executive Gabe Paul.

On January 3, 1973, Steinbrenner and minority partner Burke led a group of investors, which included Lester Crown, John DeLorean and Nelson Bunker Hunt, in purchasing the Yankees from CBS for $10 million which proved to be a mere song and one of the best investments of the century.But the early years of Steinbrenners rain would be marred by turmoil .Employees who crossed paths with “The Boss.” would not be in the Yankee organisation for long leading to many high-profile departures. At the conclusion of the 1973 season, two prominent names departed: manager Ralph Houk, who resigned and took a similar position with the Detroit Tigers; and general manager Lee MacPhail, who became president of the American League.

Controversies surrounded Steinbrenner and he is as famous for both his pursuit of high-priced free agents and, in some cases, infamous for feuding with them. In his first 23 seasons, he changed managers 20 times including many high profile dismissing’s of Billy Martin on five separate occasions, and general managers 11 times in 30 years. In July 1978, Martin, Steinbrenner and his $3 million outfielder Reggie Jackson feud were almost as entertaining as the Yankees victories.During Steinbrenner’s ownership since 1973, the longest in club history, the Yankees have earned 11 pennants and 7 World Series titles.

The rest of Steinbrenners life seemed as colorful as his on field off field antics with the Yankees, He was caricatured in the hit TV show Seinfeld. While his baseball business prowess was second to none , he quietly funded many city charities below the public radar.

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One Response to “New York Icon : George ‘the Boss” Steinbrenner”

1. nelson bunker hunt says:

   April 2, 2010 at 12:19 am

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