Local Baseball Fans Remember George Steinbrenner

On the morning of the 81st annual Major League Baseball All-Star game, one of baseball's—and New York's—most iconic sports figures died.

George Steinbrenner, 80, the owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, suffered a  massive heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL, leaving baseball fans, sports fans, and New Yorkers alike to look back at the storied and often controversial career of the man Yankee fans called "The Boss."

As the news of his death led sports figures, broadcasters and friends to remember Steinbrenner, local fans reacted in different ways.

Chris McCarthy, Katonah-Lewisboro's director of health, physical education, athletics and wellness, who knew no other Yankee owner than Steinbrenner, said it was interesting to watch his evolution as a tough boss but giving individual.

"I was born in 1970 and grew up watching him fire Billy Martin [five times], and then for all the issues he had with Joe Torre, he never fired him. He had such a passion, and he was philanthropic. I liked that he had a game face, but was a real person behind it,"said McCarthy, who played college baseball at the University of Rhode Island.

Steinbrenner was part of a group that bought the New York Yankees in 1973 for ten million dollars. Today, the most successful team in American sports is estimated at a worth of over 1.5 billion dollars. During the Steinbrenner years, the Yankees won 16 division titles, 11 American League Pennants, and seven World Series titles.

Most importantly, however, Steinbrenner single-handedly changed the standard for owner involvement in the day-to-day operations of a baseball club. Steinbrenner became the face of the New York Yankees early in his career, but also gained a reputation as a generous and compassionate individual, dedicating his millions not only to insure the Yankees' dominance on the field, but also to provide opportunities to others.

"I think his legacy overall is going to be one of someone that put winning above everything else," said South Salem resident Stephen Mortati. "He's going to have a huge influence not only on general managers in baseball but in all sports. I think he's a role model in that respect."

Steinbrenner's career was not without controversy, however. In 1990, he received a lifetime ban from baseball from then Commissioner Fay Vincent, for paying to receive slanderous information about one of his players, Dave Winfield.

For baseball fans outside of New York, Steinbrenner will be remembered for such controversies as the one surrounding Winfield, as well as for his feverish spending and sometimes cutthroat philosophy.

"I think he's going to go down a lot better than he really was," said Red Sox fan and Katonah resident Larry Brigman. "People are going to forget the suspensions and the illegal campaigns. But hey, they'll say this – he put the best players on the field. He brought a lot of talent to New York."

Despite the criticisms he faced throughout his career, Steinbrenner will forever be remembered, at least by the majority of baseball fans, as an owner loyal to his city, to his fans, and to the commitment of winning.

In Steinbrenner's own words, "Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next."