Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner passes away at age 63

Hank Steinbrenner, the oldest son of long-time New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, has passed away. Steinbrenner was 63.

Steinbrenner passed early Tuesday at his home in Florida. His death was due to a long-running illness and not related to the coronavirus, according to details shared by Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

The team released their own statement shortly after to confirm the news.

For as long as most Yankees fans can remember, George was a presence in the owner’s box. No other owner was anything like him. He was never shy about voicing his opinion on how the team should be run, which presented a host of conflicts and concerns the club would need to overcome over the years (both on the field and off). As George’s health started to fail in the early 2000s, it was Hank who stepped up first to take a more active role in the Yankees ownership. To many, Hank seemed just like his father and he appeared to be the logical choice to continue the legacy.

Like his father, Hank was drawn to some of the team’s more colorful — and sometimes controversial — characters.

Upon George’s death in 2010, however, Hank stepped back and allowed his younger brother, Hal, to assume majority control over the team. Hank, along with their two sisters, Jennifer and Jessica, remained partners. In recent years, Hank’s involvement has become less and less.

Hank had his own moments of notoriety though. One of the biggest came in 2008 when he openly complained about the formation of Red Sox Nation, suggesting that the whole concept was a media creation and not at all representative of what teams people around the country rooted for. To him, Yankees Country reigned far superior than Red Sox Nation.