Boss and Bastille Remembrances...

If you were anywhere near the television today watching ESPN (the day of the 81st All-Star game) the news was announced and an afternoon was spent paying homage to a man who became one of the most influential owners in all of sport. George Steinbrenner dead at the age of 80 mere days after the passing of Bob Sheppard and George's 80th birthday on Independence Day.

I remember the period when Michael Burke and CBS sold the Yankees to George Steinbrenner and his 11 partners 1/3/73 for under 10 million. In retrospect CBS would spend three times that amount to buy David Letterman 20 years later.

George vowed from Day one that pride, tradition, and winning would return to New York by any means necessary. Pundits and friends will speak ad infinitum about all the good or bad he did to the game. Despite receding health since 2007, the Yankees today are worth an estimated 1.6 billion dollars! That is some serious growth.

I'll never forget the wrath he endured when free agency was in it's infancy in 1974 (after Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith challenged the reserve clause). An Oakland pitcher, Jim 'Catfish' Hunter was a free agent. New Years Eve during the Sugar Bowl I remember Dave Diles announcing that Hunter was to be a Yankee. 5 years for 3.7 million dollars. A lot of money then.

1977 two free agent signings were Don Gullett and Reggie Jackson. For over 30 years the cry was 'The Best Team Money Could Buy'. In the latter part of the 70's an argument could be made for that.

1980 the stakes went higher when Dave Winfield was available for a price. And on it went until a three year suspension occurred in 1990 when Steinbrenner paid a gambler 40 grand to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield with no success.

1993 the Boss returned and allowed Gene Michael to do his thing in the office while Buck Showalter laid some serious groundwork down for Joe Torre to thrive from 1996-2000. You see, there was great minor league talent about to shore up the middle for many many years. Jeter, Williams, and Rivera. What a run it was.

George knew how to plat the press and he was always quick to interject a football mentality when goading or prodding the management or team. 17 managers in 23 years, including Billy Martin five times. Oh, the chemistry those two had! Both wanted to win equally as bad. They were a love affair in the press.

Time may have mellowed this modern day Patton of ownership and protocol, but his desire to field a team of All-Stars never diminished. How fitting his death date match the day of the All-Star Game! 

If you were to ask for my favorite George moment, without question it was when Reggie Jackson returned to New York as an Angel 4/27/82. With Ron Guidry on the mound, Reggie went deep amidst the chants of 'Reggie! Reggie!' and 'Steinbrenner Sucks!' post-home run trot. I hated to see Reggie come to Arlington. I did get watch Reggie play quite a bit in New York and Arlington back in the day.

Best wishes to the Steinbrenner family as the tributes will be many fold when baseball resumes the second half of 2010 on all playing fields in America.

(As for July 14th)...

This day 1977, New York city had it's blackout when lightning struck a Con Edison tower. This day in 1934 Babe Ruth hit homer #700 as a Yankee, his final year before finishing up his career as a Brave.

This day in 1973 I saw my first Yankee game at the old stadium. Watched a fellow Cuban Cookie Rojas homer off Doc Medich en route to a 4-2 loss as my Dad, Bill Albert, and his son sat alongside. Steve Busby with the win. I still remember the awe I felt inside that stadium.

This day in 1997 after 2 am I had a moment of clarity in the name of a traffic stop. I was wrong to drive and to this day regret hat almost happened. Thankfully a 2 year run of deferred told me I had a problem and an illness. Come September 11th it will mark 13 years since my last episodic bout with Rumpleminze and the law.

It's also Bastille Day. How could I forget? Be safe my friends.

Over and out in Big D

Mr. Will