It's Official

[bigbadwolf]

Legends Field in Tampa Florida has just been renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field after the greatest owner in MLB history. Mr. Steinbrenner and his immediate family where in attendance, for the unveiling and the first pitch was thrown out by Joanne Steinbrenner. Thank you Mr. Steinbrenner, for all the great things you have done for Yankee fans.

[stejay]

I'm glad that's happened. everyone disses Steinbrenner, but they are just jealous. He is the greatest owner in history by far. How many owners can boast 6 World Series wins. It's not his fault the Yankees are so hated. He isn't exactly just going to tell the Yankees to spend $1 a year, because the other teams hate them, is he. He isn't to blame for the gap in salaries in the MLB. The other owners are. If they wanted a better team, these fat-cats would get their wallets out, and spend. They are in it for a quick buck, instead of the happiness of the fans. Thats what makes Mr. Steinbrenner the best owner in the MLB. He cares about the fans, and winning, and not making money as the primary objective. Somepeople say he is too obsessed with winning. It is better than having a owner who spends diddly-squat on his team, and they get little in return. They are obsessed with money. He is obsessed with winning. There is nothing at all wrong with that, and go on George, you do whatever is necessary to make the Yankees win.

[Mariano_Rivera]

Good for him. Pete Abraham posted that he rode around the field in a gold cart waving at fans.

[bigtime39]

I'm glad that's happened. everyone disses Steinbrenner, but they are just jealous. He is the greatest owner in history by far. How many owners can boast 6 World Series wins. It's not his fault the Yankees are so hated. He isn't exactly just going to tell the Yankees to spend $1 a year, because the other teams hate them, is he. He isn't to blame for the gap in salaries in the MLB. The other owners are. If they wanted a better team, these fat-cats would get their wallets out, and spend. They are in it for a quick buck, instead of the happiness of the fans. Thats what makes Mr. Steinbrenner the best owner in the MLB. He cares about the fans, and winning, and not making money as the primary objective. Somepeople say he is too obsessed with winning. It is better than having a owner who spends diddly-squat on his team, and they get little in return. They are obsessed with money. He is obsessed with winning. There is nothing at all wrong with that, and go on George, you do whatever is necessary to make the Yankees win.

Could you please provide links to sources that indicate Steinbrenner put any of his own money--not money generated by the team, but his own money--into the franchise after the initial purchase.

[stejay]

Could you please provide links to sources that indicate Steinbrenner put any of his own money--not money generated by the team, but his own money--into the franchise after the initial purchase.

You are so geared up about the "truth", why don't you tell me? Any links to suggest he doesn't spend his own money. The only person who can tell you want you want to know is George Steinbrenner.

[SDL]

Legends Field in Tampa Florida has just been renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field after the greatest owner in MLB history. Mr. Steinbrenner and his immediate family where in attendance, for the unveiling and the first pitch was thrown out by Joanne Steinbrenner. Thank you Mr. Steinbrenner, for all the great things you have done for Yankee fans.

Steinbrenner IS a leader in a few categories...

Most suspensions.

Most pardons from a president

Most illegal campaign contributions.

Most payoffs to Howie Spira...

When I go to some FSL Games there this summer, I'll try not to vomit when I see The Boss's name on the signs and the ballpark itself...

[Mattingly]

Could you please provide links to sources that indicate Steinbrenner put any of his own money--not money generated by the team, but his own money--into the franchise after the initial purchase.

Wouldn't he have to put his own money down just to make the initial purchase?

I can say for the record that George M. Steinbrenner, III, much moreso than any other owner in recent history, has definitely put down more money to see his team win than any other baseball owner.

Why doesn't Baltimore Peter Angelos or the Twins' Carl Pohlad (a multi-billionaire) put some of their own mone into their teams? I think that The Boss should be the last person who's asked how much of his money is being used to help the team, unlike the others who gladly accept his money, only to sit on it without investing it into their own teams.

Can we return to the story about George Steinbrenner having Legends Field being renamed after him?

[Mattingly]

Steinbrenner IS a leader in a few categories...

Most suspensions.

Most pardons from a president

Most illegal campaign contributions.

Most payoffs to Howie Spira...

When I go to some FSL Games there this summer, I'll try not to vomit when I see The Boss's name on the signs and the ballpark itself...

How about adding the baseball team owner who's most supportive of his team and has done everything he can to win? What's wrong with an owner who enjoys seeing his team win?

Yes, he's far from perfect, but then again, who isn't?

[Mattingly]

Just a simple note here to bigtime39 and SDL: I enjoy both of you as forumers and your opinions are always welcome here. However, I've long considered it in very poor taste to bash a team, its players or its Front Office in that team's own forum. Same goes for the Yanks as they do for the Orioles, Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincy Reds, etc.

You're always welcome to this Yankee forum, but if you must highly criticize The Boss, please save this for either Current Events or the Bitter Rivalry thread.

Thanks.

[bigtime39]

Just a simple note here to bigtime39 and SDL: I enjoy both of you as forumers and your opinions are always welcome here. However, I've long considered it in very poor taste to bash a team, its players or its Front Office in that team's own forum. Same goes for the Yanks as they do for the Orioles, Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincy Reds, etc.

You're always welcome to this Yankee forum, but if you must highly criticize The Boss, please save this for either Current Events or the Bitter Rivalry thread.

Thanks.

Matt:
I didn't actually say anything about Steinbrenner this time. Rather, I asked stejay to back his up his claim that Steinbrenner is better than every other owner who ever walked the face of the earth because he poured copious amounts of his own money into the team above and beyond the original purchase price. He responded by demanding I prove the negative (that he hadn't done so) instead.
Whether or not George III was good for the Yankees (and Yankees fans' answer to that question would have been quite different had he died in 1993 than it will be when he eventually passes), I am convinced that he has been bad for the sport of baseball. And that's not talking smack, calling names, or even being highly critical.
I will give him this...I can't recall anyone else who has been banned from baseball (once "for life") and came back...twice. Further proof that capital takes care of its own...and that most baseball owners are idiots. (Now that is talking smack...about all the other owners!)

[Westlake]

I hear they're renaming Monument Park to what it obviously should be.... "Joek Grounds"

[Mattingly]

Matt:
I didn't actually say anything about Steinbrenner this time. Rather, I asked stejay to back his up his claim that Steinbrenner is better than every other owner who ever walked the face of the earth because he poured copious amounts of his own money into the team above and beyond the original purchase price. He responded by demanding I prove the negative (that he hadn't done so) instead.
Whether or not George III was good for the Yankees (and Yankees fans' answer to that question would have been quite different had he died in 1993 than it will be when he eventually passes), I am convinced that he has been bad for the sport of baseball. And that's not talking smack, calling names, or even being highly critical.
I will give him this...I can't recall anyone else who has been banned from baseball (once "for life") and came back...twice. Further proof that capital takes care of its own...and that most baseball owners are idiots. (Now that is talking smack...about all the other owners!)

Don't worry about it, since I was just making a general comment. I think I've likely given you more leeway here with your "Bankee$" comments than anything, and SDL & I chat quite a few times in the BR thread. Therefore, I think that our understand of one another would overrule any misunderstand that may be perceived, which, thankfully, I don't even see happening (any misunderstanding).

I personally don't think that Big Stein is perfect. Had this been 10-15 years ago, we would've Johan Santana, but at the expense of having given up Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera. I all but presumed those to be a foregone conclusion that they'd be playing in the Twin Cities right now, but thankfully, Brian Cashman was able to talk Hank & Hal into keeping them.

Even when the Yanks traded youth for youth (even "older youth", if such a term exists), we sent Ted Lilly in a 3-way trade to Oakland, and in return, got back Detroit's Jeff Weaver. This just when Lilly got much more expensive and whose stats in a certified pitcher's park didn't exactly translate over here. That and his being as lucky as lightning on a sunny day. Making matters worse, we traded him for Kevin Brown. Ugh! :o

I share your views on George's faults, and the Spira thing is one aspect of Yankee history that goes into the "what the heck was he thinking?" category. One of those closet skeletons that most people would like hidden away, if not for the fact that everyone knows about it.

I don't look at George as a rose without thorns, nor do I look upon him as a thorn in anyone's side (yep, you kow where I'm going, but I won't say it), so in reality, he's done lots of good in loving his team and spending to get wins. However, the ways he's used to get there have been faulty to many, myself included.

In the end, warts and all, I wouldn't trade him for another owner. While he seemed overly enamored with big name free agents, particularly moreso *OTHER* teams' FAs instead of re-signing his own, he did his best to win.

In the real world, it's like having parents who loved you dearly, but had faults, such as preferring your older brother or sister to you, or buying them stuff all the time, but not you. Nothing in life is perfect, and George reflects this. Still, I have to say that he deserves the honor of the renaming into "George Steinbrenner Field", and I'm happy that the big guy had his day yesterday.

Yourself and SDL are always welcome back here anytime, and we'll even fix dinner for you two, and you can also spend the night in the guest house ... before we chase you out in the morning, of course!

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

. Still, I have to say that he deserves the honor of the renaming into "George Steinbrenner Field", and I'm happy that the big guy had his day yesterday.

Personally I think that it is too much honour for him. Besides that, in this way I will always be remembered to a man that ruined our farm system several times.

But I guess I'll be the only Yankee fan that thinks this way.

[YankeeDJW]

Personally I think that it is too much honour for him. Besides that, in this way I will always be remembered to a man that ruined our farm system several times.

But I guess I'll be the only Yankee fan that thinks this way.

Maybe I just like to look at the glass as half full, but I remember the six World Championships the team has thanks to him over everything else.

[Urbanshocker13]

Maybe I just like to look at the glass as half full, but I remember the six World Championships the team has thanks to him over everything else.

four of them you can thank to Gene michael, not George. As I hate allot of things George has done and think he has done more harm then good. Like it or not he is a big part of Yankee & baseball history.