One of baseball’s most controversial figures, George Steinbrenner passed away today after suffering a massive heart attack

SCOTT JACOBS

George Steinbrenner was more than an owner.  He was more than George Costanza’s boss.  He was at times, almost larger than life.  He bought the Yankees for $8 million back in 1973, and by the time his time on Earth had come to pass, he turned the most iconic sports franchise into a worldwide brand; a team that wasn’t worth $10 million back when he purchased them, is now a money tree worth over $1 billion.

One of the most criticized and controversial figures in sports history, Steinbrenner was not loveable or a fan favorite (unless you rooted for the Bronx Bombers).  He was cold, and tough, a man brought up by his father to get whatever he wanted, whatever means necessary.  What Steinbrenner did with the Yankees is unparalleled by any other owner.

He not only wrote the checks, but went so far beyond reasonable means, that he helped turn baseball’s free agency period into a yearly spending spree.  His lavish commitments to get the best in the game created a major gap between baseball’s haves and their havenots.  And by the time that his health had failed him, and he could no longer run the Yanks, Steinbrenner’s franchise had become the most powerful force in professional sports.

The Yankees won 7 World Series titles under his watch, including a dominating stretch in the 90’s and early 2000’s.

18 managers worked under Steinbrenner’s watchful eye.  With him in charge, the Yankees won an astounding 16 division titles, made it to the ALCS 13 times, and won the AL pennant 11 times.

Steinbrenner’s acquisition of the Yankees was a rather unheralded one.  Few could have forseen the empire that The Boss would build when the shipping magnate from Cleveland purchased the Yankees on January 3, 1973, the 53rd anniversary of the infamous Babe Ruth purchase.

Today, Curious George died.  At the age of 80, from a heartattack.

The man who once relished the spotlight and the chance to make a splash, no matter how the media would perceive it, had faded from view in recent years, a shell of the domineering figure that America had grown to love or despise.  His last public appearance would come in the 2008 All Star game, in a wheel-chair, barely able to speak, hardly intimidating at all.

But George was a scary guy, a man who not only expected success, but demanded it.  That fiery personality led to the comical on again off again relationship with Billy Martin, and the eventual divorce from Joe Torre after a World Series drought of 4 years.

Whatever your opinion of The Boss, he was influential.  He was big.  He changed baseball forever.

Today he’s gone, just two days after New York’s long-time P.R. announcer Bob Sheppard passed.  Two totally different people.  One, the ‘Voice of God,’ the other a man who did anything to win.

And in the end, two people who will forever be linked to Yankee lore.

The Boss, dead at 80 years old.  Still, tough to believe.

Photo: Reuters

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