George Steinbrenner Has Died

Yankees principle owner George Steinbrenner has died according to an official NY Yankees press release.

Steinbrenner, who turned 80 on July 4, was at his home in the Tampa/St. Pete area when emergency responders were called Monday night. He died at 6:30 a.m. this morning of an apparent heart attack.

The Yankees released the following statement:

“It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing,” the family said in a statement released this morning. “He passed away this morning in Tampa, Fla., at age 80. He was an incredible and charitable man. First and foremost he was devoted to his entire family – his beloved wife, Joan; his sisters, Susan Norpell and Judy Kamm, his children, Hank, Jennifer Jessica and Hal; and all of his grandchildren. He was a visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again.”

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Steinbrenner and Yankees families.