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Yankees dedicate title to Steinbrenner, watching in Tampa

Staff photo by JIM REED

Nelson Montayre shops for World Series merchandise at the Steinbrenner Field store in Tampa the morning after New York clinched its 27th title.

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The Associated Press

Published: November 5, 2009

Updated: 11/05/2009 11:07 am

NEW YORK - For a guy who was hundreds of miles away in Tampa, George Steinbrenner still managed to dominate the World Series.

Talk about a fitting tribute.

The frail owner was in his hometown when New York beat Philadelphia 7-3 on Wednesday night to secure another championship at the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, but there's no doubt the outcome brought a smile to his face.

"He's the reason we're here," captain Derek Jeter said. "First of all, we wouldn't be in this stadium if it wasn't for him. We wouldn't have this group together if it wasn't for him. This is a special moment. We all tried to win it for him. He deserves it."

It was the 79-year-old Steinbrenner's seventh crown since he bought the team in 1973 and first since turning over the day-to-day operations to his son, Hal, last November.

"Dad, I know you're at home watching with mom," Hal Steinbrenner said after accepting the championship trophy. "This one is for you."

George Steinbrenner has made few public appearances since his health deteriorated in recent years. He attended the first two games against the Phillies, returning to the stadium for the first time since Opening Day. After the Yankees won Game 2, Steinbrenner was helped into an SUV surrounded by security personnel to keep the media from seeing, MLB.com reported.

Hal and his brother Hank talked to their father during the clinching game.

"He's happy now," Hank Steinbrenner said. "Like I said, he was just, I say teary-eyed, emotional, very emotional."

Long after the players filed off the field, there was a picture of the trophy and the message "BOSS, THIS IS FOR YOU" displayed on the massive videoboard in center.

Commissioner Bud Selig even saluted Steinbrenner during the trophy presentation. "To my friend, George, wish you were here. Congratulations. This one's for you," he said.

"He built this ballpark for us," Game 6 winner Andy Pettitte said. "He put this team together. He set a standard for us to uphold. These guys embraced it, and that makes it even sweeter to accomplish what we did."

Steinbrenner is known as one of Tampa's biggest philanthropists. He and his wife, Joan, own a home near Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, according to Hillsborough County records.

Under Steinbrenner's sometimes-tumultuous reign, the Yankees have won the World Series in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and this year. They've also won 11 American League pennants.

"He's here. He's everywhere, believe me," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told MLB.com after the game. "We're real proud that we were able to do this. This has got to be the greatest day for him. His pride and joy is his family, and his pride and joy is the Yankees. And on a night like tonight, they both came together."

Steinbrenner moved the team's training facilities to Tampa in the 1990s, and the team plays its spring games at the stadium named in his honor.

A sign at the training facility on Dale Mabry Highway proclaims the Yankees' many titles. On Thursday, it was changed to reflect the latest accomplishment.

The Legends Room store at Steinbrenner Field was already selling Yankees World Series merchandise the morning after the Game 6 triumph.

Staff photojournalist Jim Reed contributed to this report.

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