George Steinbrenner Life Story

George Steinbrenner Wiki | George Steinbrenner Biography | George Steinbrenner Life Story | George Steinbrenner Wikipedia

George Steinbrenner Wiki | George Steinbrenner Biography | George Steinbrenner Life Story | George Steinbrenner Wikipedia

George Michael Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930 – July 13, 2010 was a businessman and owner and former principal executive of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees. His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries made him one of the sport’s most controversial figures.

Steinbrenner was known as a hands-on executive, earning the nickname “The Boss.” His tendency to meddle in daily on-field decisions, and to hire and fire (and sometimes re-hire) managers led then-Yankees skipper Dallas Green to give him the derisive nickname “Manager George.”

During Steinbrenner’s ownership from 1973 to his death, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned 11 pennants and 7 World Series titles.

He died after suffering a massive heart attack in his Tampa home on the morning of July 13, 2010.

Early life

Steinbrenner was born in Rocky River, Ohio, the only son of Rita (née Haley) and Henry George Steinbrenner II. Steinbrenner’s father had been a track and field star, a world-class hurdler, while at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in engineering in 1927. He later became a wealthy shipping businessman who ran the family firm, Kinsman Shipping, operating freight ships hauling ore and grain on the Great Lakes. Steinbrenner entered Culver Military Academy in northern Indiana in 1944, and graduated in 1948. He has two younger sisters, Susan and Judy.

Steinbrenner received his B.A. from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1952. While at Williams, George was an average student who led an active extracurricular life. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was an accomplished hurdler on the varsity track and field team, and served as sports editor of the student paper, played piano in the band, and played halfback on the football team in his senior year.

Air Force, marriage, football coach

Steinbrenner joined the United States Air Force after graduation, was commissioned a second lieutenant and was posted to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio. Following honorable discharge in 1954, he did post-graduate study at The Ohio State University (1954–55), earning his master’s degree in physical education. He served as a graduate assistant to legendary Buckeye football coach Woody Hayes. The Buckeyes were undefeated national champions that year, and won the Rose Bowl. He met his wife-to-be, Elizabeth Joan Zieg, in Columbus, and married her on May 12, 1956. The couple stayed married since and gave birth to two sons Hank Steinbrenner and Hal Steinbrenner, and two daughters Jessica Steinbrenner and Jennifer Steinbrenner-Swindal. Steinbrenner served as an assistant football coach at Northwestern University from 1955 to 56, and at Purdue University from 1956 to 57.