Baseball Hall of Fame: Three Execs Deserve Enshrinement
By Matt Veasey
GEORGE STEINBRENNER
Nicknamed “The Boss”, Steinbrenner worked for, purchased, and grew a family shipping business into a business empire during the 1960s and early 1970s.
In January of 1973, Steinbrenner led a group of investors in purchasing the legendary New York Yankees franchise from CBS, which had owned the club since 1965.
The Yankees had won 20 World Series championships to that point, but none since 1962. The club was floundering through eight consecutive non-contending seasons.
The 1973 season was the first of nearly four decades of colorful Steinbrenner ownership of Major League Baseball’s highest profile team in the biggest city and media market in the western hemisphere.
Steinbrenner became notorious for firing numerous manager and general managers, including a nearly comical relationship with former Yankees player Billy Martin, hired and fired five times as the skipper.
YANKEES RETURN TO THE TOP
But the owner also was extremely competitive, willing to spend money to make and keep the Yankees as a top contender.
The club quickly rose to the top once again, finishing in first place in the AL East in five of the six seasons between 1976 and 1981. They won the World Series in both 1977 and 1978, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers each time.
By the end of the 1980s, the Yankees were again floundering. But after four straight losing campaigns the club again emerged as a strong contender just as the 1994 strike hit.
Since 1994, the Yankees have finished in either first or second place in the AL East in all but two seasons. They captured the World Series crown in four of five seasons between 1996-2000, including three in a row.
In failing health, Steinbrenner ceded control of the operation to his sons after the 2007 campaign. But as if to hand him a goodbye gift, the Yankees won the 2009 World Series while he was still the owner.
Steinbrenner passed away on the day of the 2010 MLB All-Star Game. In addition to his legacy of seven World Series championships and 10 American League pennants, Steinbrenner also held the important distinction of being the first MLB owner to sell broadcast rights to cable television.