George Steinbrenner's final move as owner was a damn good one.
Last year, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner were named co-chairmen of the Yankees, but Hank stepped into the limelight as much as possible, trying to make as big an ass of himself as he could. He wasn't the owner—that title still belonged to King George—but he (and his brother) were now in control of the team, and he was ready to make his voice heard.
Hal, on the other hand, spent his time at the stadium, watching the team and learning the inside-outs of running it. And so, when George passed on the torch today, it was to Hal, not Hank.
Hank will continue to oversee baseball operations, while Hal will manage the team financially, and I'm not exactly thrilled about that: Hank has established himself more as a talker than a thinker. But Hal is the man in charge, the one with the final decisions, which is a somewhat comforting thought. Hopefully, he'll be able to talk some sense into his older brother and somehow convince him to shut up.
- B/R Ticket Guide
But the big news here isn't about Hal or Hank. They ran the team last year, and we knew it was coming to this. Hal himself said his role isn't going to be changing much, as he's been running the team on a daily basis already.
The big news is the official turnover of the team, which has been approved by Major League Baseball. King George's reign is now officially over, and while it was quite predictable, it is now complete. Hal Steinbrenner owns the Yankees, not George. A 35-year era has ended.
As an aside, I'm rather peeved that this is not the main story on ESPN. The headline on the homepage is an interview with Matt Ryan, with the Steinbrenner story pushed behind the latest Ocho Cinco gossip and Chase Utley's hip surgery.
On the MLB page, Utley's surgery is ahead of Steinbrenner, and the headline features "coverage" of the hot stove, today pointing out that there are many closers available. Talk about obvious.
You're telling me that transfer of ownership of one of the most prolific teams in sports is not headline news? That the legendary George Steinbrenner officially giving up control of his team is less important than reminding us that K-Rod can be signed by anyone? Seriously, ESPN? Yes, we knew it was coming, but it's still huge news. Good riddance.
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about 1 month ago
I'm more interested in the latter part of your commentary. I do find it very perplexing that this wasn't more newsworthy. Maybe because George hasn't died? But, it's a significant event because, as you say, it's the end of an era.
Don't know if you closed with "good riddance" to ESPN or to GS. If to GS, I think that's rather harsh. It's very popular to criticize GS, but you know what, the guy cared about the team. He may have not done it the right way or in the most cordial manner, but he put his money where his mouth was. He didn't make money with the NYY. I'm proud to have an owner like that for my team. Unlike all the other owners in MLB who don't put their money into their team and then they complain about the NYY. Believe me, these owners can pay if they want to do so. As much as they criticize GS/NYY, baseball resurgence is directly due to the NYY's resurgence in the late 90s. Baseball needs the NYY to be relevant.
from about 1 month ago
The good riddance was to ESPN. I'm a big fan of George, and any other owner who is seriously involved with his team. I think it's great that he cared so much about his team, and didn't view it as strictly a business. I apologize if that wasn't clear.
from about 1 month ago
Oh, okay. I mean George isn't above criticism of course, I'm just saying many bash the guy.
It's not like he's sitting in the dugout a la Jerry Jones (Cowboys) on the sidelines. Now that's way too involved.
about 1 month ago
I always hated George, but he wanted to win more than anyone and he should be in the hall of fame. The Yankees were $2.5 million when he bought them. Now they're $1.2 billion. Not to mention all those championships while being very good at selecting GM's.
Are we still gonna be hearing Hank's random comments though? I find them entertaining.
about 1 month ago
I'm glad George chose Hal and not Hank because I think he will be more like George, but not as harsh and will really care about the team more than his older brother. Brian best get his men this off season and concentrate on what made the NYY champions in the past. Joe Torre said it best good pitching wins ball games and good pitching will stop good hitting. We need 5 good starters again and a good reliable set up man that one day could/should be Joba. I think they need to go after the right pitchers and be aggressive but not cocky like setting time limits to CC recently.
about 1 month ago
I'm glad George chose Hal and not Hank, because. I think he will be more like George, but not as harsh. I believe he will really care about the team more than his older brother. Brian best get his men this off season and concentrate on what made the NYY champions in the past. Joe Torre said it best good pitching wins ball games and good pitching will stop good hitting.
We need five good starters again and a good middle reliever and a reliable set up man. We all may agree that one day that could or should be Joba. I think they need to go after the right pitchers and be aggressive but not cocky like the setting of time limits to CC recently. The other factor we forget we had during those championship years was sense of family.
There were no big super stars really, but everyone played together as a team. No one had a big ego and everyone genuinely cared for each other. Players played the game mostly without the help of steroids and other drugs back when I was a girl. I pray one day we can see baseball be clean again and players playing for the love of the game and not just for the money trying to earn more or become better than someone else.
Every year they won those championships they seemed to have had a special extra reason to win. Once it was for Darryl Strawberry battling cancer. Then Joe Torre's brothers illness and so on. They always played to win and did not play as if trying not to lose. There is a big difference when you believe you win and going out and trying not to lose every game. They were not cocky, but confident and I hope Hal, Hank, Brian, and all involved in putting together this years team will go back and look at those winning teams and then hopefully they can invite the right players and they will want to come because we are the Yankees and we are champions not going to be champions!
I have been a Yankee fan since I was a child and that has been about 50 years now. I have seen many teams good and bad come and go, but one thing always stayed the same. The Yankees were winners even when they did not come out on top as champions. You may ask how I can say that. It is not always the winning, but how you play the game and they showed themselves always to be winners on and off the field. It also helps when you have won more championships than any other sports franchise!
So, I think Hal needs to remember what made us champions. George is still around so I know he will still be giving his advice as long as he can. Say what you will about George, but he knew how to put a championship caliber team on the field every year. It was up to them to perform. Lets give Hal a chance and maybe we can get past the lean years and start off a new stadium a new House that George (Ruth and Steinbrenner) built with our 27th championship under number 27 manager Joe Girardi. Long live King George and Go Yankees
by Ethel Lair
about 1 month ago
I'm opposed to any success the Yankees may have, and the Steinbrenners are the reason. Well, MLB is the reason, too. The Yankees carry a lot of unknowlegable fans, who think they are knowledgable, and that bugs me, too. George and company are all too often outspoken, and little sense comes from their mouths, either that or their comments are out of place. MLB needs a salary cap and to reverse all the stuff Selig did. Finally, I don't have a problem with fans who only follow their team, and not others. I have no problem with fans who watch either 5 games a year or just the World Series. If you are one of these fans, though, don't stick out your chest and debate with a knowledgable fan about something you obviously know nothing about. Yes, I have some issues with some people, and they tend to be Yankees fans.
I understand your point, Edgar, about George's willingness to spend money, and I have to admit, it is admirable. The Yankees have an unfair advantage because other teams can't/won't compete with them for players. There should be a cap, tough still. One team shouldn't have 8 TIMES THE ANNUAL SALARY of other teams (i.e. Florida). Is it the fault of Marlins ownership? Probably, but still... I think you get my point.
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