George Steinbrenner appears on this year’s MLB Eras Committee’s Hall of Fame Ballot. His election to the Hall is long overdue and easily justified. You can help the cause…
George Steinbrenner rattled the baseball world like no other owner, except maybe for Branch Rickey who saw the light and had the outright gall to bring in Jackie Robinson to play for his Brooklyn Dodgers.
And if you are a fan of the Yankees since the beginning of the 21st Century, you may find it hard to understand, but George Steinbrenner was one of those larger than life characters who dominated and filled any room he was ever in
He was the Robin Williams of comedy and the Jack Nicholson of acting, cartoon-like on the surface but so much more on the inside.
George Steinbrenner lived and breathed the New York Yankees. He boasted, he cajoled, he overwhelmed with his checkbook, and maybe he even bent the rules a little bit. But more than anything, George Steinbrenner was a winner, and he made his team and his city, the New York Yankees, a winner.
Not to be easily dismissed either is the human side of George Steinbrenner. Recall, for instance, that he was the man who enveloped and brought both Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry into the Yankees fold when they were outcasts, due to self-admitted alcohol and drug dependencies.
Also recall, though, the moments when Gooden threw a no-hitter against the Mariners (Video) and the sweet swing of Strawberry sending baseballs far into the night during the Yankees 1998 Championship season.
Not unlike anyone who goes against the tide, George Steinbrenner built up his share of enemies. Most of these came from competing owners and fans in cities who stood little or no chance of competing with the Evil Empire.
But one caveat remains true. If you are not in it to win it all, then why are you in it at all? This was George Steinbrenner. Take it or leave it. He didn’t care, and those of us who send the email to the Hall urging his election don’t care either.
Shortly, the MLB Eras Committee, a fancy name for the “Retirement Committee” that used to be, will be announcing the newest members of the Hall of Fame for the Class of 2019. It took some time, but I dug deep into the crevices of the Hall, and I believe that the committee is composed of these members. It’s a mix of former players, umpires, media, and executives – all of whom are members of the Hall itself. As with the separate general election, an individual’s name must appear on 75 percent of the ballots cast.
As you peruse some of the names before the Eras Committee – Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Joe Carter, Will Clark, Orel Hershiser, Davey Johnson, Charlie Manuel, Lou Piniella, Lee Smith – it is appreciated the competition is stiff, as it must be for this honor.
Still, our plea to the Eras Committee is simple. Did any of these players dominate the game of baseball to the levels that George Steinbrenner did? I don’t think so, and we’ll see how many others feel the same way when emails sent to the Hall begin to mount and the Committee is forced to take notice.
If you are of a like mind, Click Here to make your voice heard.
There’s only one Boss. Relish him here,,,
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
