George: The Poor Little Rich Boy Who Built the Yankee Empire »

Peter Golenbock is one of the nation's best-known sports authors. He has written some of sports' most important books, including five New York Times bestsellers: The Bronx Zoo with Sparky Lyle, Number 1 with Billy Martin, Balls with Graig Nettles, Idiot with Johnny Damon, and Personal Fouls. He is also the author of the bestselling book on NASCAR, American Zoom, and he has written books about the Mets, and most recently 7: The Mickey Mantle Novel. His collaboration with Tony Curtis, American Prince, reached number seven on the New York Times bestseller list. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The biography of one of the most controversial figures in sports: New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

For 34 years, he berated his players and tormented Yankees managers and employees. He played fast and loose with the rules, and twice could have gone to jail. He was banned from baseball for life—but was allowed back in the game. Yet George Steinbrenner also built the New York Yankees from a mediocre team into the greatest sports franchise in America. The Yankees won ten pennants and six World Series during his tenure. Now acclaimed sportswriter and New York Times bestselling author Peter Golenbock tells the fascinating story of "The Boss," from his Midwestern childhood through his decades-long ownership of the Yankees–the longest in the team's history.

• Draws on more than a hundred interviews with those who have known George Steinbrenner throughout his life to tell the complete story of "The Boss" and his long tenure as owner of the New York Yankees

• Gets inside Steinbrenner’s countless manager hirings and firings, from Billy Martin to Joe Torre; the legendary feuds and hard feelings involving famous figures such as Yogi Berra and Dave Winfield; and the ever-spiraling players' salaries

• Covers the astute business deals that transformed the Yankees from a $10 million franchise into a powerhouse worth over $1 billion today

• Written by Peter Golenbock, one of the nation's best-known sports authors and the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including Number 1 with Billy Martin and The Bronx Zoo with Sparky Lyle

Packed with drama, insight, and fascinating front-office details, George is essential reading for baseball fans and anyone who loves a terrific story well told.

Paul Kaplan - Library Journal

George Steinbrenner, the longtime owner (since 1973) of the New York Yankees, has been one of the most colorful characters in modern baseball lore, with emotions about him-pro and con-running deep among Yankee fans. Golenbock (Dynasty: The New York Yankees 1949-1964) has written many sports best sellers, and his technique is to tell a story through relating interviews and hilarious anecdotes, producing an easily readable winning formula. Readers will gain insight into the love-hate relationship with Steinbrenner's nemesis, manager Billy Martin, and some incredible championship years. Steinbrenner's role has now diminished as his sons have taken control, but he has cast a large shadow over the team and the sport. His legacy will probably take many years to assess, but this is a good, readable biography in the meantime. Recommended for most baseball buffs; even non-Yankee fans will enjoy. On the topic of the Steinbrenner-Martin relationship, also consider veteran sportswriter Phil Pepe's The Ballad of Billy and George: The Tempestuous Baseball Marriage of Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner.

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xv

Personality Disorders xvii

Prologue: The Final Game 1

1 Henry and George 5

2 Culver Military Academy 13

3 Williams College 26

4 Lockbourne Air Force Base 44

5 Coach George 51

6 Come to Papa 64

7 The Cleveland Pipers 71

8 George Builds an Empire 91

9 Vernon Stouffer's Revenge 98

10 Buying the CBS Yankees 104

11 George Takes Charge 113

12 Watergate 122

13 George's Short Exile 135

14 Wooing Billy 141

15 George's First Pennant 160

16 The Bronx Zoo 164

17 "One's a Born Liar" 183

18 George in Charge 195

19 The Fans Chant 212

20 Hello, I Must Be Going 221

21 Insanity 237

22 Howie Spira and Mr. May 248

23 American Ship Goes Under 260

24 Gene Michael Rebuilds 268

25 Joe Torre Arrives 286

26 George Takes Back the Reins 304

27 The Gold Mine 313

28 Silent George 325

29 George the Munificent 337

Notes 347

Bibliography 353

Index 355