Massapequa Looks Back on George Steinbrenner

For 37 years, he was "The Boss."

George Steinbrenner may have been the most dominant personality in the history of New York baseball. 

He was loved by many, despised by others, but was almost always the center of attention. So it was no surprise that Massapequa area baseball fans had much to say about Steinbrenner after learning of his death on Tuesday.

"He certainly did a lot for the Yankees and great things for New York," said Carmine DeStefano, 79, a longtime Yankee fan, who was playing softball for an over 60 league at John J. Burns Town Park.  "I'm sure his sons will continue the tradition.

Steinbrenner's sons Hal and Hank, have taken over the operations of the Yankees, the team their father bought from CBS in 1973.

He paid $10 million for a franchise that's now believed to be worth more than a billion dollars.

"CBS was losing money and he made it work," said Danny Murphy, 63, who was also playing for The Town of Oyster Bay's senior team. "He started out with terrible teams and he turned it around."

During the Steinbrenner era, the Yankees won seven World Series titles and eleven American League championships.

But he was also criticized for paying millions of dollars to bring high priced free agents to New York.

"He set the Yankees up to be winners, because of the money situation," said Charlie Margiasso.  "Some people think that it's not fair, but that's the rules."

Fans also remembered him for his charitable acts and for taking care of former employees.

Roy Hughes, 71, said he had a personal encounter with the boss.

"I met him once in Elaine's Restaurant," he said. "He came to the table, and shook hands with everyone. It  was very thrilling."

Another person who had contact with Steinbrenner on several occasions was Bob Gutkowski, the former president of Madison Square Garden, who was playing on a team from Huntington that played the TOBAY team Tuesday. 

Gutkowski was a sometime business rival who clashed with Steinbrenner over the creation of the YES network.

"I had a lot of differences with him over the years." he said. "But he always had an incredible passion for winning, for the Yankees and for New York City.

Margiasso said he also had mixed feelings about Steinbrenner. "I don't like the way he treated people, but sometimes it's tough being the boss."