George Steinbrenner
1930 - 2010
January 3, 1973 Heading a limited partnership that includes Lester Crown, John DeLorean and Nelson Bunker Hunt, George Steinbrenner, a Tampa ship builder purchases Yankees from CBS. 'The Boss' will become well-known owner due to his pursuit of expensive talent, well-publicize feuds with players and baseball's brass, and the frequent firing of GMs and managers.
November 28, 1974 After being convicted of making illegal contributions to the Re-elect Nixon campaign, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner is suspended from baseball for two years by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
April 17, 1976 At George Steinbrenner’s insistence, Thurman Munson is named Yankee captain. The relucant backstop is the first player to assume the role since Lou Gehrig was honored with position in 1935.
April 13, 1978 On Opening Day, Roger Maris returns to Yankee Stadium for the first time since being traded to the Cardinals in 1966. The prodigal son, who has shunned many previous invitations, returns to help Mickey Mantle hoist the club's World Champion flag due to the promise of team owner George Steinbrenner to install sod and lights for the baseball field at his children’s school in Gainesville, Florida.
October 28, 1979 Dick Howser replaces Billy Martin as Yankee manager. The former Florida State baseball head coach, who spent the previous ten years as the team's third base coach, compiles a 103-59 record leading the team to an American League East, but the independent-minded skipper is fired by hands-on owner George Steinbrenner after being swept by Kansas City in the playoffs.
October 9, 1980 In Game 2 of the ALCS with the Yankees trailing 3-2 with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, George Steinbrenner is caught on live national television jumping out of his seat and shouting what appears to be profanities when Willie Randolph is tagged out at home on a relay throw by George Brett. The Yankees' owner wants third baseman coach Mike Ferraro fired on the spot, but manager Dick Howser refuses and the skipper will lose his job when the team is swept in three games by the Royals, despite a first place finish in the American League East compiling a 103-59 record.
December 16, 1983 Replacing Billy Martin (91-71, third place), Yogi Berra is hired for the second time to manage the Yankees. The Hall of Famer self-exile from Yankee Stadium will last for nearly 15 seasons, after he is dismissed 16 games into 1985 season despite receiving assurances from owner George Steinbrenner that he would not be fired.
December 23, 1985 Thousands of fans, including former President Richard Nixon and Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, attend a memorial mass conducted by John Cardinal O'Connor at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral held for Roger Maris. The moving service for the recently deceased ballplayer is arranged by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.
August 18, 1989 Bucky Dent replaces Dallas Green (5th place, 56-65) as the Yankee manager. It is the 17th time the team has changed skippers during George Steinbrenner's 17-year tenure as the club's owner.
March 23, 1990 Howard Spira is arrested for extorting money from George Steinbrenner The Yankee owner paid Spira $40,000 in January.
March 1, 1993 George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner of the New York Yankees. 'The Boss' had been banned due to his association with alleged gambler Howard Spira.
March 3, 1997 In a controversial deal, the Yankees sign a 10-year contract with Adidas. The licensing agreement with the popular sportswear company puts team owner George Steinbrenner at odds with the baseball establishment.
January 5, 1999 Receiving an apology from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner about his 1985 dismissal as manager after only 16 games, Yogi Berra ends his self-exile from Yankee Stadium and the organization. The Bronx Bomber legend is expected to participate in future Opening Day and Old Timer's ceremonies.
July 28, 2000 Unable to win in four months, David Cone is sent to the team's minor league camp in Tampa by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The struggling veteran will be under supervision of Billy Connors, the Yankees vice president of player personnel.
August 1, 2002 The Expos trade recently acquired outfielder Cliff Floyd (.275, 21, 61) to the Red Sox for two minor league right-handed pitchers from South Korea, Seung Song and Sun-Woo Kim. Although denied by all involved, it is reported Yankees owner George Steinbrenner suspects the Expos, who are owned by major league baseball, made the trade to help his club's top rival.
October 26, 2003 Citing disagreements with team owner George Steinbrenner, Don Zimmer resigns as the bench coach of the Yankees. ‘Pop-eye’, a close friend of skipper Joe Torre, will be named Senior Baseball Advisor for the Devil Rays before the start of next season.
June 15, 2005 Joining Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor George Pataki, and team officials, George Steinbrenner announces plans for new ballpark in the Bronx. The Yankee-financed $800 million facility, which will be built north of the current stadium in Macombs Dam Park, will seat at least 51,800 and will mirror the ‘The House that Ruth Built’ including limestone walls and the familiar copper frieze.
August 10, 2005 After being released from the hospital, an 18-year old fan appears in court to face criminal charges of trespassing, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief stemming from his 40-foot plunge last night from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium into the netting behind home plate. Team owner George Steinbrenner called the incident ``... the only exciting thing that happened today,'' after his struggling club loses to the first-place White Sox. 2-1.
March 4, 2006 Prior to exhibition game scheduled to be played at Legends Field in Tampa, the Yankees, using a sign outside the park, apologize to the fans for the absence Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams due to the World Baseball Classic. in August 2004, George Steinbrenner had abstained when the owners approved the World Cup at the urging of commissioner Bud Selig.
July 4, 2006 Yankee owner George Steinbrenner's 76th birthday is less than festive, as the Indians provide all of the fireworks in 19-1 Independence Day rout over the Bronx Bombers. The victory is Tribe's most lopsided victory at home since the 1950 team, scoring 14 first inning runs, beat the Philadelphia A's at Cleveland Stadium, 21-2.
October 7, 2007 George Steinbrenner makes it clear if the Yankees do not get past the first round of playoffs against the Indians, Joe Torre's job, the longest tenured manager under the Boss's ownership, will be in jeopardy. Trailing the ALDS 2-0, the team responds for their popular skipper with a come-from-behind from 6-4 victory over the Tribe at the Stadium.
October 22, 2007 Washington State native Mel Stottlemyre returns to the big leagues as the pitching coach of the Seattle Mariners, accepting a one-year contract to join skipper's John McLaren's staff. The former pitching coach for the Yankees and Mets, who is being treated for multiple myeloma, left the Bronx in after 2005 season tiring of the criticism from owner George Steinbrenner.
March 18, 2008 In an attempt be part of a healing process on the campus where 32 students and staff became victims of a deadly shooting spree last April, the Yankees play the Hokies at Virginia Tech's English Field. George Steinbrenner, moved by coverage of the massacre last spring, donated $1 million to a memorial fund and made arrangements for his team to participate in an exhibition game at the school.
November 20, 2008 The 35-year reign of George Steinbrenner as the Yankees boss officially ends when the MLB owners unanimously approve of his son taking control of the franchise. Hal Steinbrenner was appointed co-chairmen of the team along with his brother Hank at the start of last season when it became evident their 78-year old dad has was gradually reducing his role as the owner of the storied franchise.
March 29, 2009 The Yankees dedicate a permanent September 11 memorial at the entrance of George M. Steinbrenner Field, the team's Spring Training home in Tampa, Florida. The tribute to the victims and their families of the terrorist attacks of 2001 features a foundation in the shape of the Pentagon which supports two towers made from steel from the World Trade Center placed on a grassy spot representing the heroes of United Flight 93, who perish in a field in Pennsylvania.