Probably only two things separate the New York Yankees, as the most successful professional sports franchise, from the rest of the sporting world, or rather, only two people:
Babe Ruth and George Steinbrenner
Babe, single-handed, dragged the Yanks from the ranks of baseball, to unprecedented winners. He did it with skill and charisma, at levels never before seen in sports. Steinbrenner returned that success to the team, also with charisma but with a passion for winning. Let's be honest: the bucks played a big part, too, but other owners had the bucks but never achieved what George did.
He took chances, hired players and managers, with just one thought: winning. Did he go overboard in his enthusiasm, his outlandish treatment of people? All the time. But he won. And he was always in control.
"There is nothing quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner's," one of partners, John McMullen, said later.
He's been ill and out of the picture for some time now, so his passing isn't the shock it might have been, but he will be missed.
CP-
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