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Open Thread: It was 36 years ago today…

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Few Yankee fans realize it, but Jan. 3 is actually a rather significant day in Yankee history. It was on this day in 1973 that a syndicate headed by George M. Steinbrenner III paid a meager sum of $10 million to the Columbia Broadcasting System for the New York Yankees.

In today’s dollars, the Yankees cost Steinbrenner and his group around $47,843,468.47 or what Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter make an a season. That price was, according to The Times article about the sale, a real steal, and CBS took a loss on their investment. “It’s the best buy in sports today,” Steinbrenner said about the Yanks. “I think it’s a bargain. But they [CBS] feel the chemistry is right. They feel they haven’t taken a loss on the team.”

While Steinbrenner bought the team after it a decade of losing seasons and its first sub-one million attendance season since World War II, he has, as we all know, turned the franchise into the premier team in sports with six World Series championships over the last 36 years, a new stadium and a run of attendance topping the four million mark. Needless to say, the team is worth far more than $47 million today.

Meanwhile, the best part of the article announcing the sale is the final quote from Steinbrenner. “We plan absentee ownership as far as running the Yankees is concerned,” he said. “We’re not going to pretend we’re something we aren’t. I’ll stick to building ships.”

Truer words are often spoken.

Anyway, use this thread as your evening open thread. We’ve got two NFL playoff games today, and the Nets, Rangers and Islanders are all in action. Just play nice.

The photo above is of Yogi, George and Billy Martin in 1976 and comes via The Daily News.

An ode to the Boss from LA

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When Hal Steinbrenner officially assumed control of the Yankees last week, an era of baseball history came to close. For 30 years, George, spending billions of dollars, has gone from a wild and crazy guy devoted to winning to a somewhat tempered owner still obsessively devoted to winning. Along the way, he’s made countless enemies, broken numerous baseball rules and forever altered the economic face of the game.

Earlier this year, I looked at the Boss’ Bronx legacy, and then Reggie called for George to land in the Hall. Over the next few years, we’ll hear a lot of those arguments — impact vs. personality — rehashed, but for now, writers are struggling with his quiet departure.

In a piece from the West Coast, Steve Dilbeck pens a Dodgers-centric paean to King George. A lot of us are too young to remember it, but the Dodgers and Yankees were primary interleague rivals during Steinbrenner’s early years as manager. While that rivalry has faded, the Boss’ best hyperbole came out when the Yanks and Dodgers squared off in the playoffs. Dilbeck looks back, almost fondly, on that era and wonders how the Boss managed to fade away so quietly. It truly is the end of an era of baseball history.

The annual George Steinbrenner watch

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With the off-season upon us, it’s time for the New York media to start their annual George Steinbrenner Health Watch. Ken Davidoff kicks things off with a column about George’s recent appearance with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. King George, says Davidoff, ain’t lookin’ so hot these days. While his family simply says that George is “fine,” the 78-year-old is clearly not in the best of health.

George to miss Yankee Stadium finale

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According to numerous reports, George Steinbrenner will not be at Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening. Considering all that George has meant for baseball and all that he has done with the Yankees since buying the team in the early 1970s, I have to believe that he must be rather incapacitated if he’s missing the final game. For better or worse, it won’t be the same without him around.

Open Thread: Is The Boss a HOFer?

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Site Note: We’re upgrading to a dedicated server, so the site may act a little squirrelly as the switch is made over the next few hours. Please be patient if the site acts up a little tonight, everything will be much better by tomorrow. Thanks.

George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees for a mere $10M back in 1973, and has watched the team grow into a $1.2 billion dollar mega-franchise. The most recognizable owner in sports has had his share of highlights, low lights, and all sorts of in-between lights, and remains as recognizable as ever despite handing the reins over to sons Hank & Hal. He’s been suspended from baseball for paying people to dig up dirt on one of his players, he revolutionized a new income stream by being the first owner to sell his team’s television rights to a cable network, he was indicted on 14 criminal counts for improper contributions to Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign, and he’s donated millions of dollars to charities of all shapes and sizes, most of which was done outside of the public eye.

During last weekend’s HOF induction ceremony, both Goose Gossage and Dick Williams shared their thoughts on Big Stein’s HOF candidacy, and that candidacy is what we’re here to discuss tonight. Does Steinbrenner belong to be immortalized in the Hall of Fame?

Many claim that he’s ruined baseball by exploiting his team’s financial advantages, others claim that he’s helped increase the game’s popularity to record highs. He may best be known for his firey temper and a revolving door of managers, but his contributions, particularly to the Tampa community, will leave the longest lasting impression of Mr. Steinbrenner.

What do you think, does The Boss belong in the HOF? Discuss it here, and play nice.

Reggie: George belongs in the Hall

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At a Tampa ceremony honoring George Steinbrenner yesterday, Yankee great Reggie Jackson expressed his belief that Steinbrenner belongs in the Hall of Fame.

“Personally, when it comes to the game and its history, I think I certainly have a case for The Boss, George Steinbrenner,” Jackson said. “With his ten pennants and six world championships, I would give him my nod to one day be elected to the Hall of Fame.”

As anyone who knows Yankee history is sure to understand, it’s only a little ironic to hear Reggie Jackson of all people proclaiming George’s Hall of Fame destiny. But then again, Reggie and George seemed to have each other’s backs in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, as much as we don’t want to admit it, Jackson is right: George Steinbrenner belongs in the Hall of Fame. He’s been suspended from baseball twice; he’s one of the most abrasive owners in the game; but his contributions to the game and his legacy will live on long after he passes away. Forget the pennants; forget the World Championships. Just look at baseball’s current financial structure, and you will understand why George belongs in the Hall.