NEW YORK (AP) Hank Steinbrenner, the oldest son of George
Steinbrenner and one of the four siblings who own the controlling
shares of the New York Yankees, died Tuesday at age 63.
The team said he died at home in Clearwater, Florida, due to a
long-standing health issue.
A chain smoker and miniature drag racer, Hank hoped to succeed as
father as the team’s controlling owner. Between the 2007 and 2008
seasons, he became the public voice of the Yankees’ ownership.
”We’re keepers of the flame, I guess,” he said then. ”I don’t
particularly necessarily enjoy it. It was kind of thrust upon me.
At some point, if you’re going to be a leader, you’ve got to step
up and you can’t hide in the office.”
But brother Hal, 11 years younger, was put in charge in November
2008. While Hank was in his 13th season as a general partner and
11th as co-chair, he did not appear to have much involvement in the
team’s operations in recent years. Still, Hal said he consulted
Hank and sisters Jessica and Jennifer on all major decisions.
George Steinbrenner died in July 2010 and wife Joan died in
December 2018.
A rock fan, Hank Steinbrenner kept a Fender Stratocaster guitar on
the floor near the door of his office at the Yankees’ spring
training ballpark.
”Hank was a genuine and gentle spirit who treasured the deep
relationships he formed with those closest to him,” the
Steinbrenner family said in a statement. ”He was introduced to the
Yankees organization at a very young age, and his love for sports
and competition continued to burn brightly throughout his life.”
”Hank could be direct and outspoken, but in the very same
conversation show great tenderness and lightheartedness. More than
anything, he set an example for all of us in how comfortably he
lived enjoying his personal passions and pursuits,” the team said.
Henry G. Steinbrenner was born April 2, 1957, in Cleveland and
attended Culver Military Academy, like his father. He then went to
Central Methodist College in Missouri.
He played soccer at Central Methodist and coached at Ocala Vanguard
High. He was 15 when his father led a group that bought the Yankees
from CBS in 1973. Hank traveled with the team for parts of the 1985
and 1986 seasons, learning under Lou Piniella, Woody Woodward and
Clyde King, before getting out of baseball and concentrating on the
Steinbrenner thoroughbred stable in Ocala, Florida. He was a vice
president and director of Bay Farms Corp. since 1985 and a member
of the board of the Ocala Breeders Sales Co.
Steinbrenner also served as chairman of Minch Transit Co. and vice
president of Mid-Florida Hotels Corp. He coordinated a partnership
with Gwynn Racing in 2000 to field a Gwynn/Steinbrenner Yankees
dragster on the National Hot Rod Association tour and with son
George Michael Steinbrenner IV formed Steinbrenner Racing in 2016.
The group competed on the Indy Lights developmental circuit in
2017-18, then partnered to form Harding Steinbrenner Racing which
started on the IndyCar circuit in 2019. Another merger led to
Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport this year.
He is survived by daughters Jacqueline and Julia, sons George
Michael IV and John, granddaughter Anabel, and his three siblings.
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