January 4th, 1973 … A date that will go in infamy! If you know anything about history then you know that I borrowed that line from President Franklin D Roosevelt and his speech declaring war before WW2.
In a way, the shipbuilder from Cleveland was declaring war in the baseball world.
George Steinbrenner purchased the world’s most famous sports team and he privately had a plan. He wanted to make it the most important and powerful, not to mention profitable!
In order to do that he also understood that he had to win and win quickly.
He put together a 5 year plan however each year he went at it with the intention of winning that year.
On the fourth year thanks to Chris Chambliss and the most dramatic home run in Yankee history the Yanks would win the American League Championship.
The following year Reggie Jackson would put on a show for the ages with the 3 home run game and Thurman Munson would declare him Mr. October.
George Steinbrenner lived up to his promise and the Yankees would become World Champions on the 5th year of ownership.
When it comes to on the field I can only say that the rest is history.
The Boss and the Bronx Bombers would go on to win 6 more World Championships and some absolutely great players like Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter would get to wear the pinstripes.
That’s all fine and dandy but the thing that made and makes the aura of George Steinbrenner and the Yankees so mystical is the fact that so many people throughout the years would have a better life because of the incredible heart that the Boss would have.
One time I was sneaking some kids into the stadium and I got caught doing it by security. They reported me to the Boss. When I went in to see him he asked me why I did it. I told him they were poor kids that had never been in the park even though they lived in the neighborhood. He asked me why didn’t I tell him and I said because they were not affiliated with anyone. At that moment he said F… labels. Then he went into his pocket and gave me two hundred dollars so that I could show them a good time.
This is just a tiny example of who this man was and how he cared for those less fortunate.
I am eternally grateful because as the world knows, I was once one of those kids and that man and the Steinbrenner family have gone on and beyond the call… In my house between me and my cousins, there were 12 kids… there were seven boys. Of the seven boys, I’m the only one alive today. They all died for various reasons including a shooting!
I often ask myself what might have happened to me had George Steinbrenner not purchased the Mona Lisa of sports… The New York Yankees!
