1 Year After His Death, Tampa Yankees Remember George Steinbrenner
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was remembered in Florida Wednesday night on the first anniversary of his death.
A short message was read over the public address system and a moment of silence was observed before the Tampa Yankees hosted the Palm Beach Cardinals at Steinbrenner Field.
"His passion for his family, charity and winning with his beloved New York Yankees marked the foundation of a great American life and legacy," said the PA announcer. "He was one of sports' most iconic figures and will never be forgotten."
Steinbrenner died of a heart attack at 80 on July 13, 2010. The Boss, who resided in Tampa, would watch the Class-A Yankees play from his fourth-floor office at the facility.
A bouquet of flowers was placed next to a 600-pound, life-size bronze statue of Steinbrenner at the entrance of the stadium, which is also the Yankees' spring training home. The 6-foot statue, on a 3-foot granite pedestal, is identical to one in the lobby of new Yankee Stadium.
Steinbrenner was also on the big league club's mind before the All-Star break.
"I know baseball has changed a lot, but it's especially changed (in New York)," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said last week. "I will always remember the way it was here when (Steinbrenner) was alive. The things he did for a lot of the players, the things he did behind closed doors … well, you just don't see that now."
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