"STEINBRENNER"

Today is ten years since Yankee owner George M. Steinbrenner died.  Warts and all, I loved the man....he was like the Donald Trump of the baseball world.  Colorful and controversial, many hated him simply because he was RICH but he had a big heart that he hid under a gruff exterior.  When he died at age 80, many people came out of the woodwork to tell the world how he helped them, and their families, with his wealth in a compassionate (and quiet) way.

Born on the 4th of July, Steinbrenner was very PATRIOTIC and his overall time as Yankee owner was 37 years (1973-2010).  He was a fierce competitor who wanted the team to WIN, and his motto was "Winning isn't everything, but it beats coming in second." He hired and fired Billy Martin as manager 5 times and made many OTHER questionable changes in his first 17 years. From 1973-1990, the Yankees won two World Championships and then he was suspended from baseball in 1990 for three years because of something he did wrong (this was about 6 months after Martin was killed in a car crash on Christmas Day, 1989).  

When Steinbrenner returned for his SECOND 17 year stint, somewhat humbled by his suspension and WITHOUT Billy Martin around, the Yanks won FIVE Championships in the years 1993-2010, giving "The Boss" a perfect SEVEN for his career as owner.

When he died, the Yankees were reigning World Champs and in first place at the halfway point of 2010.  The NEW Yankee Stadium "King George" built was STILL new and he left the team to his sons, Hal and Hank. (Hank passed away about three months ago.)

I was very moved by George Steinbrenner's death ten years ago today, and I wrote my first tract on that occasion. I reprint it here below for anyone who is interested.

PLEASE PARDON THE VERY STUPID ERROR I MADE IN THE VERY FIRST LINE OF MY VERY FIRST TRACT. To my knowledge, there are no glaring errors like this in any of the subsequent four.