Hank Steinbrenner
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Henry (Hank) Steinbrenner (born April 2, 1957[1]) is the part-owner of the New York Yankees along with his brother Hal Steinbrenner. Hank's title in the Yankee system is Senior Vice President of the New York Yankees. At present, Hank seems to be the future of President/CEO of the Yankee organization given that his father, George Steinbrenner, has publicly expressed his intention to pass the team over to his sons as he gets older. The brothers also oversee the Steinbrenner family's hotel and horse-racing interests.
Since 2007 Hank and Hal have taken over most of the day-to-day responsibilities in the running of the team. Their father has stepped aside allowing Hank and Hal to make most of the decisions about the team in tandem with Yankees President Randy Levine and General Manager Brian Cashman.
When Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract during the game clinching 2007 World Series, Steinbrenner vowed not to negotiate with him. Steinbrenner was quoted as asking if Rodriguez wanted to be remembered as a Yankee or a Toledo Mud Hen.[citation needed] Three weeks later, Rodriguez called Steinbrenner and told him he wanted to come back, and Steinbrenner only agreed to negotiate on his own terms, though Rodriguez did ultimately receive a multi-year deal increasing his salary.
Steinbrenner is married to his wife Julie, and they have four children.
[edit] Controversy
Steinbrenner is not afraid to speak his mind, and he appears to have little sense of regret when he does.[2]
Steinbrenner voiced his displeasure with the term "Red Sox Nation" in a 2008 interview:
| “ | Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of bullshit that is...That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans...Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order. - Steinbrenner in March 2008. |
” |
In response, Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry inducted him into Red Sox Nation, complete with a membership card giving him access to an array of options, including the group newsletter, bumper stickers, pins, Green Monster seats and a hat personally autographed by David Ortiz.[3]
Concerning the Yankees' spring training feud with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, Steinbrenner stated: "I don't want these teams in general to forget who subsidizes a lot of them, and it's the Yankees, the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets...I would prefer if teams want to target the Yankees that they at least start giving some of that revenue sharing and luxury tax money back. From an owner's point of view, that's my point."[4]
Steinbrenner also has taken frequent shots at former Yankees manager Joe Torre; Steinbrenner said his father did not get enough respect for hiring Torre in 1995,[2] and that Joe Girardi has "...a little more fire in his belly" compared to Torre when it comes to managing.[2] Steinbrenner has gone on to say that he will "support everything (Girardi) does" and "(Girardi) was the manager I wanted, and that's not anything towards Joe Torre. That's the manager we wanted at the time. Times change."[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Hank Steinbrenner - NTRA
- ^ a b c Hank Steinbrenner, in another outspoken moment, denounces Red Sox Nation ESPN.com, 1 March 2008.
- ^ Boston owner grants Yanks' Steinbrenner membership in Red Sox Nation ESPN.com, 2 March 2008.
- ^ a b Hank Steinbrenner says teams should not 'forget who subsidizes a lot of them' ESPN.com, 15 March 2008.
