Steinbrenner’s legacy: Being the best at what he did
Article By smcneal.tsn on 13th July, 2010
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For all he did as a baseball owner, George Steinbrenner's greatest legacy was leaving the Yankees in far better shape than when he bought them.
He wouldn't want it any other way.
George Steinbrenner's $8.7 million investment in the 1970s paid off well. Steinbrenner died early Tuesday at the age of 80 as the most famous owner in American sports history. He was famous for his firings. His willingness to pay top dollar has made mega-millionaires of countless players. He also was known for his charity donations.
But most of all, he did his job better than the rest. He bought the Yankees for $8.7 million in 1973, according to a Yankees release. When Forbes again ranked the Yankees the No. 1 baseball franchise earlier this year, their value was estimated at $1.6 billion (the Dallas Cowboys are No. 1 at $1.65 billion). Under Steinbrenner, the Yankees won seven World Series and 11 pennants, moved into a new palace of a ballpark and launched their own television network.
Steinbrenner created his share of adversaries along the way because of his my-way-or-the-highway methods. Those who remembered him Tuesday -- and reactions came from across the land -- did so with respect and considerable admiration.
Said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in his statement: "George Steinbrenner was too complex a person to adequately describe in a short statement, but he was a great friend of mine and he will be missed. His impact on the game cannot be denied."
The key to Steinbrenner's success was simple: Get the best players.
"He was the first owner who paid huge sums of money to players and he was very successful at it," says Tommy John, who signed a four-year, $1.4 million deal before the 1979 season. "He paid very, very well and expected you to play very, very well. He was very, very tough to work for but he was very fair. He expected a hard day's work for a go...
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He wouldn't want it any other way.
George Steinbrenner's $8.7 million investment in the 1970s paid off well. Steinbrenner died early Tuesday at the age of 80 as the most famous owner in American sports history. He was famous for his firings. His willingness to pay top dollar has made mega-millionaires of countless players. He also was known for his charity donations.
But most of all, he did his job better than the rest. He bought the Yankees for $8.7 million in 1973, according to a Yankees release. When Forbes again ranked the Yankees the No. 1 baseball franchise earlier this year, their value was estimated at $1.6 billion (the Dallas Cowboys are No. 1 at $1.65 billion). Under Steinbrenner, the Yankees won seven World Series and 11 pennants, moved into a new palace of a ballpark and launched their own television network.
Steinbrenner created his share of adversaries along the way because of his my-way-or-the-highway methods. Those who remembered him Tuesday -- and reactions came from across the land -- did so with respect and considerable admiration.
Said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in his statement: "George Steinbrenner was too complex a person to adequately describe in a short statement, but he was a great friend of mine and he will be missed. His impact on the game cannot be denied."
The key to Steinbrenner's success was simple: Get the best players.
"He was the first owner who paid huge sums of money to players and he was very successful at it," says Tommy John, who signed a four-year, $1.4 million deal before the 1979 season. "He paid very, very well and expected you to play very, very well. He was very, very tough to work for but he was very fair. He expected a hard day's work for a go...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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