Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner dies

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died Tuesday morning. He was 80 years old.

"It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing," a statement from the Steinbrenner family read.

"He was an incredible and charitable man. First and foremost he was devoted to his entire family -- his beloved wife, Joan; his sisters, Susan Norpell and Judy Kamm, his children, Hank, Jennifer, Jessica and Hal; and all of his grandchildren.

"He was a visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again."

Numerous reports said Steinbrenner suffered a massive heart attack and was taken to a Tampa hospital late Monday night.

Steinbrenner led a group of investors that purchased the Yankees on January 3, 1973 from CBS for about $9 million and, despite saying he would not be a hands-on owner, became the exact opposite. Fueled by an incredible desire to win, he helped turn the Yankees around in just a few years. The club went to the World Series in 1976, just his fourth season of ownership, and captured the first of two straight titles the following year.

The Yankees have won seven World Series titles and 11 American League pennants since Steinbrenner took control of the storied franchise.

"On behalf of Baseball, I am very saddened by the passing this morning of George Steinbrenner," said commissioner Bud Selig in a statement. "George was a giant of the game and his devotion to baseball was surpassed only by his devotion to his family and his beloved New York Yankees. He was and always will be as much of a New York Yankee as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and all of the other Yankee legends.

"I have known George ever since he entered the game in 1972. He was my dear friend for nearly four decades. Although we would have disagreements over the years, they never interfered with our friendship and commitment to each other. Our friendship was built on loyalty and trust and it never wavered. We were allies and friends in the truest sense of the words.

"We will miss him, especially tonight when the baseball family will be gathered at Angel Stadium for the All-Star Game."

Known as "The Boss," Steinbrenner helped change baseball. He was at the forefront in the infancy of free agency, luring Jim "Catfish" Hunter to the Bronx prior to the 1975 season and Reggie Jackson two years later. Other early big signings were Goose Gossage in 1978 and Dave Winfield before the 1981 campaign.

"George Steinbrenner's passion for the game of baseball helped revive one of the game's most storied franchises, and in the process ushered in the modern era of baseball business operations," said MLB Players Assocation executive director Michael Weiner. "Mr. Steinbrenner understood and embraced the power of the players, and he put this knowledge to good use in establishing the Yankees as one of the sports world's most iconic brands.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Steinbrenner family, his friends and the entire Yankees baseball family."

Steinbrenner was also known for his temper and his penchant for changing managers. He hired and fired 12 managers, including Billy Martin five times, from 1974 until Joe Torre's reign began in 1996.

"George was The Boss, make no mistake," said Yankee legend Yogi Berra, who was infamously fired as manager just 16 games into the 1985 season. "He built the Yankees into champions and that's something nobody can ever deny. He was a very generous, caring, passionate man. George and I had our differences, but who didn't? We became great friends over the last decade and I will miss him very much."

Major League Baseball also suspended Steinbrenner twice, the second time in 1990 for allegedly paying gambler Howie Spira $40,000 to provide information on Winfield.

After returning to baseball in 1993, Steinbrenner's previous dictatorial style waned and the Yankees returned to prominence in 1996 with the first of four World Series titles in five years.

Steinbrenner also created a cable television network devoted to the Yankees. The YES Network has become a model for other teams to follow.

In 2007, and said to be in failing health, Steinbrenner stepped down and left control of the Yankees to his sons, Hal and Hank. The two rewarded him with a World Series title last year.

Steinbrenner was arguably the most-recognized owner in pro sports. He appeared in beer commercials with Martin during the late 1970s, was characterized on the television program "Seinfeld" and hosted "Saturday Night Live."

In addition to his baseball activities, Steinbrenner was also an assistant football coach at Purdue and Northwestern in the 1950s, briefly owned the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball Association and was a staunch supporter of the U.S. Olympic Committee. He also loved horse racing and established Kinsman Stable in Florida.

Steinbrenner amassed his fortune through his family's shipbuilding business and tried to purchase the Cleveland Indians before finally landing the Yankees.

The family said funeral arrangements will be private, although there will be an additional public service at a later date.

Click here to view the life of legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

Powered by sportnetwork.com
Image Provided by Getty Images/Jim McIsaac