Hank Steinbrenner facts for kids

Henry George Steinbrenner III (born April 2, 1957 – died April 14, 2020) was an American businessman. He was a co-owner and co-chairman of the New York Yankees baseball team. The Yankees are a famous team in Major League Baseball (MLB). Hank was the older brother of Hal Steinbrenner, who is the main owner of the team.

Early Life and Education

Hank Steinbrenner was born in Culver, Indiana. His parents were George Steinbrenner and Elizabeth Joan Steinbrenner. Both of his parents had German family backgrounds. Hank had two sisters, Jessica and Jennifer. He was named after his grandfather, Henry George Steinbrenner II. His grandfather had made the family's money in the shipping business.

Hank went to school at Culver Academy. Later, he studied at Central Methodist College. While in college, he played soccer. He earned a degree in history and political science.

Working with the Yankees and Other Businesses

In the 1980s, Hank Steinbrenner started working for the New York Yankees. His father, George, had bought the team when Hank was still in school. Hank learned a lot about baseball by working with important team leaders.

In 1990, his father, George, was suspended from baseball. The Yankees first thought Hank would take over as the team's main leader. However, other owners in Major League Baseball did not agree. So, Hank decided not to take on that role at the time.

Other Ventures and Return to Baseball

After leaving the Yankees for a while, Hank managed Kinsman Stable. This was a horse stable in Ocala, Florida, owned by his family. He also coached soccer at Vanguard High School in Ocala. He held leadership roles in several other companies. These included Bay Farms Corporation and Minch Transit Company. He also served on the board for the Ocala Breeders Sales Company. In 2000, he even teamed up with Gwynn Racing for car racing.

From 2007 onwards, Hank's father, George, had health problems. Because of this, George gave most of the daily control of the Yankees to Hank and his brother, Hal.

While leading the Yankees, Hank was known for speaking his mind. Like his father, he often made strong comments. Sometimes, sports writers in New York criticized him for these remarks. They felt his comments were not always well-thought-out. Even though he was outspoken, Hank was not often seen with the team. He usually worked from the Yankees offices in Tampa, Florida. He did make a rare visit in 2015 to see a player named Yoán Moncada.

Hank's Strong Opinions

Hank Steinbrenner sometimes made comments that got a lot of attention.

Once, he made a comment about the Boston Red Sox. In response, the Red Sox owner, John W. Henry, jokingly made Hank a member of "Red Sox Nation." This included a membership card and gifts like a hat signed by David Ortiz.

In 2008, the Yankees had a disagreement with the Tampa Bay Rays during spring training. Hank said that teams like the Yankees and Red Sox help support many other teams. He felt that if teams wanted to criticize the Yankees, they should give back some of the money they get from revenue sharing and luxury tax.

Hank also spoke about former Yankees manager Joe Torre. He said his father did not get enough credit for hiring Torre. He also said that the new manager, Joe Girardi, had "more fire" than Torre. Hank added that he would "support everything [Girardi] does." He felt Girardi was the right manager for the team at that time.

In September 2008, the Yankees did not make it to the playoffs. This was the first time since 1993. After this, Hank wrote an article in Sporting News. In the article, he criticized how Major League Baseball organized its divisions.

Personal Life and Passing

Hank Steinbrenner and his wife divorced in 2004. They had four children together. His son, George Michael Steinbrenner IV, owns an IndyCar racing team. This team is called Steinbrenner Racing. It works with Harding Racing to compete in the IndyCar Series.

Hank Steinbrenner passed away on April 14, 2020. He was 63 years old. He died from problems related to a long-term liver issue.

See also

In Spanish: Hank Steinbrenner para niños

• Steinbrenner family