Yankees: NYY Reveal Special Jersey Patch to Honor Hank Steinbrenner

The New York Yankees will honor Hank Steinbrenner on their jerseys in 2020.

After a decade out of the limelight, the Yankees lost part-owner and co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner following a long battle with illness on April 14 of this year.

Though his brother Hal had taken the reins of the team in their father’s stead about 10 years prior, the 63-year-old Steinbrenner remained in the Yankees family while living in Florida.

His passing came as a shock to many, though it seems likely that those in the know had downplayed his illness for years while attempting to keep a low profile for the family. But when the Yankees take the field for the first time since his death, they’ll be rocking an appropriate tribute directly on their jersey sleeves, home and away.

Steinbrenner was always a loud and proud Yankees backer every time he found himself in front of a microphone, causing the best kind of controversy by going after the incredibly phony Red Sox Nation back in 2008.

Take it from the man himself:

"“Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of bullshit that is…That was a creation of the [Boston] Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans… Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order”"

Now, in much the same way Steinbrenner always wore his Yankees fandom on his sleeve, the NYY themselves will place a constant reminder of his presence in the same spot.

We’ll see the road gray version of the full 2020 uniform set first, as the Yankees take on the Nationals for Opening Night on Thursday (or Friday, pending rainstorms).

Hopefully, the NYY can deliver for Hank, as well as the city of New York, which could use a fitting tribute right about now.