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.
- Role
- Principal Owner
- Nickname
- The Boss
- Status
- Deceased (2010)
- Achievements
- Multiple World Series Championships
- Legacy
- Statue at Yankee Stadium
Verified Timeline
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.
In Their Own Story
Kameron Misner hit a walk-off home run on March 28, 2025 during the Rays' season opener, becoming the first player to homer in a major league game at the stadium. The Rays won their first game at the stadium 3–2 in front of 10,046 fans. The final Rays' game at the stadium was on September 21, 2025 where they won against the Boston Red Sox 7–3 in front of 10,046 fans. Repairs at Tropicana Field were completed in time for the Rays to return for opening day of the 2026 MLB season on April 6, 2026.
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, received a B.A. from Williams College in 1952, and earned a master's degree in physical education from Ohio State University. He married Elizabeth Joan Zieg on May 12, 1956, and they had two sons, Hank and Hal, and two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer. Before the Yankees, he was a graduate assistant to Woody Hayes at Ohio State, an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue, and revitalized the Kinsman Marine Transit Company. He also owned the Cleveland Pipers basketball team and invested in Broadway shows.
Did You Know?
- Steinbrenner was an accomplished hurdler on the varsity track and field team at Williams College.
- He served as sports editor of The Williams Record and played halfback on the football team in his senior year.
- He joined the United States Air Force after graduation and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
- 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.
More in Stadiums & Fan Culture
Elsewhere in the New York Yankees universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record