George Steinbrenner
The Boss who built a Yankees dynasty.
George Michael Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930 – July 13, 2010), nicknamed "the Boss", was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees from 1973 until his death in 2010. He was the longest-serving owner in club history, and the Yankees won seven World Series championships and 11 American League pennants under his ownership. His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries made him one of the sport's most controversial figures. Steinbrenner was also involved in the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast shipping industry.
Quick Facts
- Legacy
- Statue at Yankee Stadium
Lore & Background
Originally known as a very hands-on owner, Steinbrenner earned the nickname "the Boss". He had a tendency to meddle in daily on-field decisions, and to hire and fire (and sometimes re-hire) managers. Former Yankees manager Dallas Green gave him the derisive nickname "Manager George". However, from the early 1990s onward, he mostly left the Yankees in the hands of the baseball operations staff and rarely interfered. He officially retired from day-to-day control of the team in 2008. He died after suffering a heart attack in his Tampa home on the morning of July 13, 2010, the day of the 81st All-Star Game. The Yankees are now owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, for which Steinbrenner's four children have served as general partners.
Reader's Guide
Steinbrenner was born in Rocky River, Ohio, the only son of Rita (née Haley) and Henry George Steinbrenner II. He attended Culver Military Academy, graduating in 1948, then earned a B.A. from Williams College in 1952, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, an accomplished hurdler, sports editor of The Williams Record, played piano in the band, and played halfback on the football team. He served in the U.S. Air Force, then earned a master's degree in physical education from Ohio State University.
He married Elizabeth Joan Zieg on May 12, 1956; they had two sons, Hank and Hal, and two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer. He worked as a graduate assistant to Woody Hayes at Ohio State, then as an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue. He joined Kinsman Marine Transit Company in 1957, later purchased it, and became chairman and CEO of American Shipbuilding Company by 1967. He owned the Cleveland Pipers basketball team, which won the ABL championship in 1961–62.
He also invested in Broadway shows. On January 3, 1973, he led a group that purchased the New York Yankees from CBS for a net cost of $8.8 million.
Did You Know?
- He served as a graduate assistant to Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes during the Buckeyes' undefeated national championship season.
- He hired John McClendon, the first African American coach in professional basketball, for his Cleveland Pipers team.
- Steinbrenner invested in Broadway shows, including the 1974 Tony nominee 'Seesaw'.
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