Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

7-30-90 . . . Ding dong, the witch is dead! The “witch” in this case is George Steinbrenner [1930-2010], who for the past sixteen years or so has owned the New York Yankees. Fay Vincent, the commissioner of baseball, announced today after a long investigation that Steinbrenner must relinquish control of the team. He can retain minority ownership (as much as 49.9%), but can have no effect on management or its policies. The basis of the ruling is still a puzzle. I’ve heard talk that Steinbrenner bribed someone to refrain from talking to people in the commissioner’s office, that he was involved in gambling, and that he maliciously breached a contract with former Yankee Dave Winfield. The commissioner has tremendous power, as this incident shows. There must have been something else involved, because Steinbrenner said after the commissioner’s announcement that he was “satisfied” with the ruling. That’s not like Steinbrenner, who throws his weight around like a drunken gorilla. At any rate, I’m glad he’s gone. He’s obnoxious, domineering, officious, and arrogant. Year after year he hired the best-known free agents in the game, thinking that he could buy a pennant. He hired and fired more than a dozen managers over the years, including Billy Martin several times. He had public feuds with Martin, Reggie Jackson, Winfield, and current star Don Mattingly. It’s no accident that the Yankees have the worst record in baseball right now. Steinbrenner demoralized everyone in the organization. It’s only a matter of time now before the Yankees resume their long tradition of excellence. [Steinbrenner died the other day at the age of 80.]