George Steinbrenner a Hall of Famer? Puh-lease!

"The Boss," George Steinbrenner
(cbc.ca)

It was recently reported that George Steinbrenner is stepping down as “The Boss” of the New York Yankees, and that his son, Hank, will be handling the day-to-day operations of the team.

In truth, George has been removed from day-to-day operations for several years as his health has declined, and for that reason everyone should wish him the best. But, what has been disturbing lately is the push by some for Mr. Steinbrenner's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Let's look at the facts. When Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees in 1973 for $10 million, the average salary for a Major Leaguer was under $100,000, the Yankees hadn't won a World Series since 1962, and hadn't been in the World Series since '64.

Steinbrenner signed many of the first wave of free agents in the mid-'70s, such as Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson, and the Yankees won pennants in '76, '77 and '78, winning the World Series in '77 and '78. It was during this period, also, that Steinbrenner made the Yankees' management a laughingstock by firing, rehiring, and firing Billy Martin over and over, and firing a third base coach for sending a runner home (obviously, the runner was thrown out!). A quick-tempered man with a generous heart, Steinbrenner once fired a secretary in the morning, and re-hired her with a raise in the afternoon.

Over the next 22 years, Steinbrenner tried to buy pennants, stockpiling players at twice or three times the market rate, and paying millions of dollars to players for playing for other teams (released on second glance) or for sitting home with injuries. The $10 million mark, once the cost for buying the entire Yankees franchise, soon became the price for a .240-hitting middle infielder, thanks to Steinbrenner. During that 22-year period, the Yankees won one pennant, in the strike year of '81, but they lost to the Dodgers in the World Series.

The Yankees, who once were known for having the greatest farm system in the big leagues, produced only a few stars in the 80's—Don Mattingly and Dave Righetti—and more often fielded a group of over-priced cast-offs from other teams—Ken Griffey, Jack Clark, Jesse Barfield, Ken Phelps, Steve Balboni, et al.

In the late 1990s, the Yankees revenue went through the roof, thanks in part to the Yankees local TV contract, and to the marketing acumen of Steinbrenner—for that “The Boss” deserves to be in the Hall of Fame of rich people who become ultra-rich. Once a millionaire, Steinbrenner became a billionaire, and made more money off licensing the Yankees logo than the Minnesota Twins made from all income sources.

With the added revenue, the Yankees kept buying free agents (more as role players), but also rebuilt their farm system, which produced Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada. Steinbrenner's greatest acquisition came in 1996 when he hired Joe Torre, and the Yankees reeled off World Series Championships in '96, '98, '99 and 2000. The Yankees made the playoffs every year from '01 through '07, and Torre was fired. “Nothing but a World's Championship is acceptable for the Yankees,” was supposedly Steinbrenner's battle cry. With a $218 million payroll in '07, you'd expect the Yankees to win.  But baseball keeps reminding fans that money doesn't buy championships. Great players, great managers, and a bit of luck is required.

Now, the Hall of Fame. Cooperstown is a special place to baseball fans. Only the best of the best belong there, and even some of those (Pete Rose) don't get in for various reasons. The case for Steinbrenner would include six World's Championships, and turning a $10 million investment into a billion-dollar empire.

The case against includes Steinbrenner making a mockery of baseball budgets, a mockery of loyalty to the people he hired, and a mockery of the beauty and fairness of farm systems.

Recognizing that some will view this as a non sequitur, the fact that such baseball stars as Andre Dawson, Ron Santo, Graig Nettles, Bert Blyleven and Double Duty Radcliffe are not in the Hall of Fame, makes the notion of Steinbrenner one day having his bust next to those of Ruth, Gehrig, Mays and Aaron absurd. 

A Hall of Fame self-promoting businessman?  Yes!

A baseball Hall of Famer? Puh-lease!