George Steinbrenner showed some emotion today as the blue covering was removed from the scoreboard in left field, to unveil the beginning of a new era for the Yankees spring training facility. Legends Field, as it is now previously known, became George M. Steinbrenner Field. The sign gleamed in the sunlight as the audience in Tampa stood and cheered for their local hero. As if it were a page out of a book, with his family by his side, and Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “New York, New York” playing in the background, Mr. Steinbrenner was met with another standing ovation as his golf cart made its way around the warning track.
This event has been a long time in the making. The local residents of the grapefruit league field have been asking to do this for years, only to be declined by the boss himself. With the daily operations of the Yankees now in the hands of his sons, Hank and Hal, it seemed like the right time. At 77, and the longest tenure in the majors (35 years), the amount that Mr. Steinbrenner has done for that community will never be forgotten by the residents, and they wanted him to know that. With a unanimous vote by both the Hillsborough County Commission and the Tampa City Council, the renaming of Legends Field was simply left up to a ceremony.
One of the many examples of Mr. Steinbrenner’s generosity toward the residents of the Tampa community is the creation of the Gold Shield Foundation. This incredible organization was set up to help the families of police officers, and fire fighters, killed in the line of duty. It gives immediate financial assistance to those grieving families, and gives free tuition for a college education. This is only one of many examples of the overwhelming generosity that sparked the residents to say “thank you” by honoring his name, and renaming Legends Field.
Already having a street named after him, the doors to George M. Steinbrenner High School plans on opening it’s doors in 2009. Located north of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, it is yet another testament to the character of a man who’s name became synonymous with the Yankees, starting on January 3, 1973.
The first game at George M. Steinbrenner Field started with the ceremonial first pitch by his wife, Joan. Although it one-hopped to home plate, there was nothing but smiles from Jorge Posada, and Mrs. Steinbrenner, as he escorted her off the mound. The game seemed to come second, as this was Mr. Steinbrenner’s day. During the ceremony he put his arm around Derek Jeter, whispering something in his ear. Apparently it was motivational, for Derek became the first player to hit a home run at George M. Steinbrenner Field. As appropriate as that sounds, I cannot think of a better way to start a new era in New York Yankee spring training baseball, then watching a Derek Jeter home run go over the fence in the exact replica of Yankee Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
If there was ever a figure in Major League Baseball that deserves this kind of honor, it is “the boss.” Love or hate the Yankees, you can’t take away the humbling amounts of generosity that George M. Steinbrenner has showed the community of Tampa, his players (both past and present), the city of New York, and the volumes of lives that he touched throughout the years. I can’t think of a person more worthy of this honor, and his name will remain where it belongs for a long time to come, atop the scoreboard in left field, at the stadium built by the boss himself in 1996. Congrats boss. You earned, and deserve it.
