Local Baseball Fans React to George Steinbrenner's Passing

On the same day Major League Baseball prepared to honor the top players in the sport with the 81st annual All-Star Game in Anaheim, Ca., America's pastime bid adieu to one of its most iconic figures.

George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, whose refuse-to-lose attitude reinvigorated a middling franchise and transformed it into a dynasty, died Tuesday morning at the age of 80 after suffering a massive heart attack in Tampa, Fla.  

As the news of Steinbrenner's passing sent shockwaves through baseball, local fans reacted in different ways to the solemn news.

"George did a lot to the Yankees. His reputation was for being tough and being fierce. Different people saw him in different ways and I can't say I agreed with what he did, but you can't argue with the success that he had," said Frank Kiausz, 69, of Newtown.

Under Steinbrenner's helm, the Yankees won seven World Series titles, 11 American League pennants and became a billion-dollar empire. Last season, they broke a nine-year draught and christened their new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium with their 27th World Series crown -- more than any other franchise.

"I always thought he was fun even though a lot of people didn't like what he did," said Gloria Ricco, of Newtown, a longtime fan. "He did a great job turning around the franchise."

Steinbrenner's free-spending approach lifted the Yankees to dominance and put the franchise at the forefront of sports not just nationally, but globally. His temperament was sometimes volatile, as witnessed by his decision to fire Billy Martin from his managerial perch five separate times between 1975 and 1988.

"I've been a Yankees fan since the 70s, so I've got to witness most of Steinbrenner's reign," said Joe Dryer, 40, of Derby, who was in Newtown on Tuesday to attend a library book fair. "I wasn't the biggest fan of his during the 80s when he kept firing the managers, but later on he became more of a people person and I think people accepted him."

Steinbrenner's success has gone unmatched over the last two decades in baseball and fueled one of the most historic rivalries in all of professional sports. In recent years, the Yankees have been referred to as the "Evil Empire," as first described by Boston Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino in 2002.

But despite the tenacious relationship both teams share, several local Red Sox fans said they were saddened by Steinbrenner's death.

"It's certainly bittersweet. It's a sad story for the family and he's been sick for awhile, so it's almost a blessing," said Red Sox fan Bob Cavanaugh, 45, of Sandy Hook.

Cavanaugh, who was wearing a David Ortiz shirt, said Steinbrenner's impact on the sport has changed the way in which each owner handles his respective team.

"He's made a change for the better and for the worse," said Cavanaugh. "It's kind of hard to explain but it's almost made the owners more active with what goes on the field, instead of behind the scenes. I personally believe the owners should stay back and let the players and managers run the game."

Red Sox fan Christopher Waters, 19, of Brookfield, called Steinbrenner's passing, "a significant event in baseball history."

"I still have a great deal of respect for the Yankees. From what I understand, they rose to be as crazy good as they are today under him," Waters said.