07-13-2010, 10:03 AM
0
George Steinbrenner has died at 80
![[Image: Obit%20Steinbrenner%20Baseball110337--300x300.jpg]](http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2010/07/13/news/photos_stories/Obit%20Steinbrenner%20Baseball110337--300x300.jpg)
George Steinbrenner, whose tumultuous 37-year reign as owner of the Yankees resulted in 11 pennants, seven World Championships and two suspensions from baseball, died this morning from a massive heart attack in Tampa, Fla. He was 80.
After purchasing the franchise in 1973, Steinbrenner quickly established himself as a unique firebrand, earning fame, admiration and ire for his impulsive personnel moves, pioneering business strategies, and win-at-all-costs mentality.
Both loved and loathed, Steinbrenner presided over back-to-back titles in 1977 and ’78, and the dynasty of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, when the Yankees became the most popular and profitable team in the nation.
After a nine-year drought, the Yankees won their latest World Championship in November, which the team dedicated to him. It came in the first season of a new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium.
"Every time we come in this stadium (I think of him)," Derek Jeter said. "The reason we're in this stadium is because of The Boss. You can't help but think of what he's meant to the game of baseball and the New York Yankees."
Steinbrenner headed a group of investors who bought the Yankees from CBS in 1973 for approximately $10 million. Today the franchise is worth about $1 billion.
His 37-year stint as owner was the longest in team history. When he took the reins of the club, he told the media, "I won’t be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all," then spent the next 37 years refuting that claim.
On the occasion of Steinbrenner’s 79th birthday in July, Andy Pettitte said, "He's a huge part of this organization. The standard that has been set here, he set that standard as far as trying to put together a championship team and a championship roster."
Steinbrenner’s trademark quick axe was typified by his treatment of manager Billy Martin, whom he hired and fired five times. Steinbrenner changed skippers 17 times in his first 17 years as owner and 20 times in his first 23, in addition to going through 11 general managers during his tenure.
But beyond his frequently rash adjustments of his staff were more sordid incidents.
In 1974, he was indicted on 14 criminal counts after being implicated in a campaign finance scandal involving President Nixon. Steinbrenner pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and making illegal campaign contributions, leading to a two-year suspension from baseball by then commissioner Bowie Kuhn. The sentence later was reduced to nine months.
Although he was pardoned by President Reagan in 1989, Steinbrenner’s reputation worsened the following year when it was learned he had paid a known gambler for damaging information on slugger Dave Winfield, in hopes of blackmailing the former Yankees star into dropping a lawsuit against the team. For this offense, Steinbrenner was banned from baseball for life, although he gained reinstatement in 1993, in time for the Yankees’ return to glory.
Read the full story: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/george_steinbrenner_hospitalized_ATeLfYmkgiAONiM9XBxgkL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0tZTi1DRB
George Steinbrenner, whose tumultuous 37-year reign as owner of the Yankees resulted in 11 pennants, seven World Championships and two suspensions from baseball, died this morning from a massive heart attack in Tampa, Fla. He was 80.
After purchasing the franchise in 1973, Steinbrenner quickly established himself as a unique firebrand, earning fame, admiration and ire for his impulsive personnel moves, pioneering business strategies, and win-at-all-costs mentality.
Both loved and loathed, Steinbrenner presided over back-to-back titles in 1977 and ’78, and the dynasty of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, when the Yankees became the most popular and profitable team in the nation.
After a nine-year drought, the Yankees won their latest World Championship in November, which the team dedicated to him. It came in the first season of a new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium.
"Every time we come in this stadium (I think of him)," Derek Jeter said. "The reason we're in this stadium is because of The Boss. You can't help but think of what he's meant to the game of baseball and the New York Yankees."
Steinbrenner headed a group of investors who bought the Yankees from CBS in 1973 for approximately $10 million. Today the franchise is worth about $1 billion.
His 37-year stint as owner was the longest in team history. When he took the reins of the club, he told the media, "I won’t be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all," then spent the next 37 years refuting that claim.
On the occasion of Steinbrenner’s 79th birthday in July, Andy Pettitte said, "He's a huge part of this organization. The standard that has been set here, he set that standard as far as trying to put together a championship team and a championship roster."
Steinbrenner’s trademark quick axe was typified by his treatment of manager Billy Martin, whom he hired and fired five times. Steinbrenner changed skippers 17 times in his first 17 years as owner and 20 times in his first 23, in addition to going through 11 general managers during his tenure.
But beyond his frequently rash adjustments of his staff were more sordid incidents.
In 1974, he was indicted on 14 criminal counts after being implicated in a campaign finance scandal involving President Nixon. Steinbrenner pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and making illegal campaign contributions, leading to a two-year suspension from baseball by then commissioner Bowie Kuhn. The sentence later was reduced to nine months.
Although he was pardoned by President Reagan in 1989, Steinbrenner’s reputation worsened the following year when it was learned he had paid a known gambler for damaging information on slugger Dave Winfield, in hopes of blackmailing the former Yankees star into dropping a lawsuit against the team. For this offense, Steinbrenner was banned from baseball for life, although he gained reinstatement in 1993, in time for the Yankees’ return to glory.
Read the full story: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/george_steinbrenner_hospitalized_ATeLfYmkgiAONiM9XBxgkL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0tZTi1DRB
![[Image: PancakeBunny.jpg]](http://www.twitchinkitten.com/myphotos/PancakeBunny.jpg)
I have no idea what you're talking about so here's a bunny with a pancake on it's head
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