By Luke Mullins and Rob Silverblatt

George Steinbrenner

George Steinbrenner went by a lot of names -- "The Boss" and "Patton in Pinstripes," just to name two -- but for those who value baseball from the business side, his most impressive epithet has little to do with his commanding personality. Notably, Steinbrenner, who died Tuesday, was one of the best buy-and-hold investors in recent memory.

In 1973, Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees for $10 million. Today, according to Forbes, the franchise is worth $1.6 billion. In terms of a return on an investment, that feat is to be rivaled only by the likes of Warren Buffett, whose famous accomplishments include paying $1.3 billion for a stake in Coca-Cola that, as of the end of last year, was worth $11.4 billion.

Owning a sports franchise, of course, is not always a profitable venture. But Steinbrenner, in a way that nobody before him could, leveraged the brand name of the New York Yankees and created a team that was as much a successful business as it was a championship magnet -- which says a lot because the Yankees won seven titles in his 37 years as owner. In doing so, he established his reputation as one of the sports community's shrewdest residents.

Over the past several decades, there have been few owners whose personalities have rivaled Steinbrenner's and even fewer who have had such a transformative impact on the industry. Here's a look at five other owners who have changed the way that fans think about sports:

Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys:

As the owner of the iconic Dallas Cowboys, Jones has helped entrench the team's brand in the national psyche. Jones also helped finance the $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium, which opened its doors last year. A hands-on owner, Jones makes strong impressions -- but not always positive ones -- on the city's fans. In 2008, Jones and the Steinbrenner family formed a concession and merchandise partnership. "Mr. Jones and my dad have had a mutual respect for each other for decades," Hal Steinbrenner, George's son, said at the time.

Walter O'Malley, Los Angeles Dodgers:

While noted for serving as the Brooklyn Dodgers' legal counsel when Jackie Robinson debuted, O'Malley is famous for what he did as the team's owner. In 1958, he moved the Dodgers from New York to Los Angeles, jumpstarting what eventually turned into a large-scale geographic expansion of Major League Baseball. "The gamble of moving out West when there were no teams out there was certainly a brilliant move," says Maury Brown, the founder and president of the website The Biz of Baseball.

John Moores, San Diego Padres:

Although the San Diego Padres are in first place in their division, chairman John Moores's most significant contribution to the sports world isn't the nine players he puts on the field. Moores didn't just build the 42,000-seat PETCO Park, which opened for business in 2004, he also spearheaded the redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhood. The effort, which marshaled more than $3 billion of private development into the once-blighted area, has since become a model for other cities looking to revitalize downtown districts, says Mark Rosentraub, a sports management professor at the University of Michigan. "You can look at what St. Louis has tried to do, you can look at Columbus, Ohio, and you can look at what's going on now around [the] Washington Nationals' facility [in Washington, D.C.]," Rosentraub says. "There are lots of examples of cities that are following what [Moores] envisioned."

Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers:

In his more than 50 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Rooney has emerged as one of football's most highly regarded figures. This universal respect enabled him to play a critical role in the landmark labor agreement between the NFL players and owners in 1993, says Marc Ganis, the president of the consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd. "The resolution was groundbreaking: It included a salary cap and a salary floor.... It included a lot of benefits and it included free agency," says Ganis. "He was integral in working out an arrangement with the players association and even more integral in persuading his fellow owners to accept that deal -- and that lead to the meteoric rise of the NFL over the last two decades." Today, Rooney remains the chairman emeritus of the Steelers while also serving as the United States ambassador to Ireland.

Wellington Mara, New York Giants:

Although Wellington Mara's ownership of the New York Giants included two Super Bowl championships, his biggest impact on the game had to do with an off-the-field decision he made in the early 1960s. It was then that Mara agreed that television revenues should be split evenly among all teams in the league. That was significant because organizations in larger markets, such as the New York Giants, had the opportunity to profit much more handsomely if they didn't share these revenues with smaller-market teams, like the Baltimore Colts. "He very selflessly allowed all broadcast revenues from the NFL to be pooled equally [and] in perpetuity," Ganis says. "That was the start of the national TV contract, which is the start of the NFL as we know it."

 

George Steinbrenner

 

George Steinbrenner

 

George Steinbrenner, whose full name was George Michael Steinbrenner III, was a prominent American businessman and sports owner, best known as the principal owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. He played a significant role in shaping the modern sports landscape. Here are some key highlights from his life

Birth and Early Life

George Steinbrenner was born on July 4, 1930, in Rocky River, Ohio, USA.

He came from a family with a successful shipping business, and he inherited his family's wealth and business acumen.

Ownership of the New York Yankees

Steinbrenner is best known for his ownership of the New York Yankees, which began in 1973 when he and a group of investors purchased the team.

Under his ownership, the Yankees experienced a resurgence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning multiple World Series championships.

Controversial and Hands-On Approach

Steinbrenner was known for his hands-on and often controversial management style. He frequently made changes in the team's coaching staff, management, and player roster.

He was suspended from baseball twice, first in 1974 for illegal contributions to President Richard Nixon's re-election campaign and later in 1990 for his association with a gambler named Howard Spira.

Success with the Yankees

During Steinbrenner's ownership, the Yankees won numerous championships, including World Series titles in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Steinbrenner was committed to fielding a winning team and investing in high-profile players.

Legacy

George Steinbrenner is remembered for his competitiveness, passion for baseball, and his role in turning the New York Yankees into a highly successful and valuable franchise.

He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, posthumously.

Philanthropy

In addition to his sports involvement, Steinbrenner was involved in philanthropic activities. His family established the Silver Shield Foundation, which provides educational support to the children of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Death

George Steinbrenner passed away on July 13, 2010, at the age of 80, in Tampa, Florida.

George Steinbrenner's impact on the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball as a whole was substantial. His ownership style, commitment to winning, and willingness to invest in the team made him a central figure in the world of sports ownership.

 

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George Steinbrenner Helped Revolutionize Baseball