George Steinbrenner, who rebuilt the New York Yankees into a sports empire with a mix of blusterand big bucks that polarized fans all across America, died Tuesday. He had just celebrated his 80thbirthday July 4.
Steinbrenner had a heart attack, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and died atabout 6:30 a.m, a person close to the owner told The Associated Press.
His death on the day of the All-Star game was the second in three days to rock the Yankees. BobSheppard, the team's revered public address announcer from 1951-07, died Sunday at 99.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of George Steinbrenner
For more than 30 years and through seven World Series championships, Steinbrenner lived up tohis billing as "the Boss," a nickname he earned and clearly enjoyed as he ruled with an iron fist.While he lived in Tampa he was a staple on the front pages of New York newspapers.
"He was an incredible and charitable man," his family said in a statement. "He was a visionaryand a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into achampion again."
Steinbrenner's mansion, on a leafy street in an older neighborhood of south Tampa, was quietTuesday morning. Private security guards milled around on the empty circular driveway inside theiron gates. A police officer took up a position outside the gates to turn away reporters and keeptraffic moving along the narrow street. News vehicles lined the other side of the street.
"The passing of George Steinbrenner marks the end of an era in New York City baseball history,"rival Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz said. "George was a larger than life figureand a force in the industry. The rise and success of his teams on the field and in the businessmarketplace under his leadership are a testament to his skill, drive, and determination."
Steinbrenner was known for feuds, clashing with Yankees great Yogi Berra and hiring managerBilly Martin five times while repeatedly fighting with him. But as his health declined,Steinbrenner let sons Hal and Hank run more of the family business.
Steinbrenner was in fragile health for years, resulting in fewer public appearances andpronouncements. Yet dressed in his trademark navy blue blazer and white turtleneck, he was themodel of success: In addition to the World Series titles, the Yankees won 11 American Leaguepennants and 16 AL East titles after his reign began in 1973.
"Few people have had a bigger impact on New York over the past four decades than GeorgeSteinbrenner," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "George had a deep love for New York,and his steely determination to succeed combined with his deep respect and appreciation for talentand hard work made him a quintessential New Yorker."
He appeared at the new Yankee Stadium just four times: for the 2009 opener, the first two gamesof last year's World Series and this year's homer opener, when captain Derek Jeter and manager JoeGirardi went to his suite and personally delivered his seventh World Series ring.
Steinbrenner, who was born in Rocky River near Cleveland, had many ties to the BuckeyeState.
In the mid-1950s, he completed post-graduate work at The Ohio State University, earning aMaster's degree in physical education. He also served as a graduate assistant to footballcoach Woody Hayes.
Steinbrenner was known for his many contributions to the communities where he studied, workedand lived, especially Ohio State.
In the late 1990s, he and his wife, Joan, made a large contribution to the newly-remodeled bandroom at Ohio Stadium. The Joan Zeig Steinbrenner Band Center has been in use since 2001.
Ohio State assistant band director Jon Waters called the room the "heartbeat" of the Ohio Stateband.
"As Woody Hayes said, you win with people," Waters said. "We have been able to usethis facility to entice the best students that we possibly can. We have the most wonderfulstudents in America in our band program, and this facility helps us to more efficiently rehearse,to recruit, to organize our entire structure."
Steinbrenner was instrumental during the Yankees' relationship with the Columbus Clippers. For years, the Columbus minor league affiliate provided New York with baseball talent.
Darryl Strawberry, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettittewere just a few of the Yankee-greats who cut their teeth in Columbus.
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