George Steinbrenner, the controversial and flamboyant owner of the New York Yankees, has died of a heart attack in Tampa, FL. Mr. Steinbrenner bought a then struggling Yankees franchise in 1973 and turned it into the most winning team in Major League Baseball with 11 American League pennants and 7 World Series titles. With a flair seldom seen even in an industry known for its characters, Steinbrenner applied a 'win at any cost' attitude and made the Yankees one of the world's most famous sports franchises.
Shipping, Sports and Controversy: George Steinbrenner Knows All Three
Born July, 4 1930 to Rita and Henry George Steinbrenner in Rocky River, Ohio, young George would attend Culver Military Academy and then Williams College where he served on the hurdle squad of the varsity track team. Following a stint with the US Air Force, Steinbrenner entered Ohio State University seeking a masters degree in physical education and served as an graduate assistant to the football team under the legendary Woody Hayes. George would coach football, first at Northwestern University and then at Purdue before taking over his father's business, American Shipbuilding Company. Bringing his competitiveness learned in sports with him, George soon turned this company into a money maker.
After making a failed offer of $9 million for the Cleveland Indians in the early '70s, Steinbrenner led a group of investors for a $10 million purchase of the New York Yankees on Jan, 3 1973. Jumping directly into controversy, he proclaimed "I won't be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all", a statement he would defy over and over again in the years to come. Changing managers 20 times in 23 years (including the famous Billy Martin feud that had that manager coming and going five times) Steinbrenner bullied, cajoled and drove the Yankees to a Major League best winning percentage of .565.