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Steinbrenner Makes Special Delivery At Stadium

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The Associated Press

Published: July 16, 2008

NEW YORK - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner made quite the entrance Tuesday night, waving to the crowd as he rode in on a golf cart before the All-Star Game.

Steinbrenner, 78, got a loud ovation when he was introduced during pregame ceremonies. He kept his aviator sunglasses on the entire time as he traveled along the Yankee Stadium warning track with wife Joan, son Hal and son-in-law Felix Lopez. Steinbrenner's cart pulled up near the mound, where he delivered baseballs to Yankees Hall of Famers Goose Gossage, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson for the ceremonial first pitches.

"It's awesome. It's well-deserved," Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said of the pregame honor for Steinbrenner in Yankee Stadium's final season. "Above all, the Stadium and Mr. Steinbrenner are the two biggest stars."

Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973 and the team has won six of its 26 World Series titles during his tenure.

While "The Boss" is still involved with the team, usually working in his Tampa office, he has turned over much of the daily operation to sons Hank and Hal. His health has deteriorated over the years, and he never left the golf cart during Tuesday's ceremony.

BIG RATINGS: More homes were tuned in to Monday night's Home Run Derby than have ever watched the event. The contest on ESPN was seen by nearly 6.2 million households, breaking the record of more than 5.7 million set in 1999, the network said.

The 6.4 rating was up 25 percent from last year's 5.1. It was the most-viewed non-NFL program on ESPN since the FSU-Miami football game Sept. 5, 2006. The rating is the percentage of homes with televisions watching a broadcast.

FLU BUG: San Francisco RHP Tim Lincecum was hospitalized Tuesday with flulike symptoms, preventing him from attending his first All-Star Game.

Lincecum was taken from his hotel to New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling ill early in the day, said Katy Feeney, senior vice president in the commissioner's office. Lincecum was released later in the afternoon after getting treatment for flulike symptoms and dehydration, the Giants said in a statement issued about 45 minutes before the start of the game.

WILLIE'S BACK: Former Mets manager Willie Randolph accepted George Steinbrenner's invitation to the game.

Randolph, a former All-Star second baseman and longtime Yankees coach, was fired last month after the Mets got off to an inconsistent start. He previously had been selected to be a coach for the game.

The Associated Press

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