Tonight’s All Star game will likely be remembered as a very sad day for baseball. Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, aka “The Boss,” died this morning of a massive heart attack.
Steinbrenner celebrated his 80th birthday on the 4th of July. His family referred to him as, “a visionary and a giant in the world of sports.”
A family statement released by spokesman Howard Rubenstein said: “He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again. He was an incredible and charitable man. First and foremost he was devoted to his entire family.”
Steinbrenner was known as one of the most controversial figures in sports and was both loved and hated for his way of running things. He was known for ruling with an iron fist, his cut-throat hiring and firing practices, and his signature navy blue blazer and white turtleneck. The Yankee owner was truly a force to be reckoned with.
As his health began to decline in recent years he let his sons run more of the family business and had stepped into the new Yankees stadium just four times. The man who demanded championships and got them will be missed.
It’s been a very tragic week for the NY Yankees, who also lost their legendary announcer Bob Sheppard on Sunday. Sheppard was known as “The Voice of God” in NY and announced for the Yankees from 1951-2007. RIP to two baseball legends.
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