I want to see George Steinbrenner in the Hall of Fame. So does an unlikely candidate – John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. Here’s what he said after the news of Steinbrenner’s death:
“I had the good fortune to call George Steinbrenner both partner and friend. I had the privilege to watch George as he built a system that ensured his beloved Yankees would have a strong foundation for sustained excellence. And then we fiercely competed in the American League. George Steinbrenner forever changed baseball and hopefully some day we will see him honored in baseball’s Hall of Fame as one of the great figures in the history of sports.”
If Henry’s campaigning for Steinbrenner in the hall isn’t shocking enough, how about this quote from team president Larry Lucchino. The man who originated the “Evil Empire” moniker said this about The Boss:
“He had a giant heart, often well hidden from public view. Part of his legacy here in Boston will be the profound kindness he showed to numerous local philanthropic causes, especially as a regular and generous contributor each year to the Jimmy Fund of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.”
Team chairman Tom Werner said that “baseball’s greatest rivalry will not be the same without him.” Werner said he “knew George as a competitor and today Red Sox Nation lost a person who truly relished the prospect of facing the Red Sox and doing all he could to make sure his beloved Yankees would come out victorious.”
To top it all off, the Red Sox will observe a moment of silence in Steinbrenner’s honor before Thursday night’s Fenway Park game against the Texas Rangers. That might be the most shocking news of all!
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