The limelight will be on this year’s National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees this weekend, but the death of New York Yankees’ owner George Steinbrenner has people questioning whether or not ``The Boss’’ belongs there as well. Steinbrenner himself once said he did not want to be enshrined at the HOF.
``If they have an Owners Hall of Fame, I’ll consider it,’’ he once said. ``But believe me, I don’t want to be in the Hall of Fame.’’
Others, although not exactly unbiased, would disagree.
Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter was quoted saying it’s, ``a no-brainer’’ for him. He says Steinbrenner has been a winner and when thinking of the Yankees, the first name that comes to mind is his. Jeter said ``The Boss’’ belongs in the Hall of Fame because of what he meant to the game.
Steinbrenner’s son and Yankees managing general partner, Hal, told MLB.com before his father’s death that there’s no doubt in his mind Steinbrenner belongs in the Hall.
Sam Nadar, who for years operated the Yankees’ farm team in Oneonta, said he believes ``The Boss’’ should be inducted into the HOF. The former Oneonta mayor said Steinbrenner was the ``best owner baseball ever had.’’
Steinbrenner was an owner, a philanthropist and some say a tyrant, but there is no doubt he was the backbone behind the success of the Bronx Bombers and had a big influence on how the game is played today.
Under his watch, the Yankees have been extremely successful, winning seven of their 27 World Series titles and 11 of their 40 American League pennants. Steinbrenner has invested huge capital in the team, and has come under some criticism from his own contemporaries for doing so. However, ``The Boss,’’ who once said he was ``really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch,’’ was also known to be very generous when it came to dipping into his wallet and giving to charities asking not to be acknowledged.
Steinbrenner, who purchased the team from CBS in 1973, is eligible for induction into the HOF as an executive 65 years or older. ``The Boss’’ could be considered and voted upon by the 12-member Veterans Committee evaluating executives and pioneers, which meets every two years and will next convene at baseball’s Winter Meetings in 2011. But first the committee must put Steinbrenner, who served on the museum’s board of directors, on the 10-person ballot. The committee is made up of two Hall of Fame players, three members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and seven baseball executives. Like players, executives need 75 percent of the vote, or in this case, seven of the 12 votes, to get in. Last year, this particular committee didn’t elect anyone.
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Our Opinion
Our Opinion: Does 'The Boss' belong?
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Our Opinion: Bassett should know better
Last week, Bassett Healthcare tried to take over two of the village’s public parking lots for the exclusive use of its employees. The lots are on East Lake Road near the entrance to Fairy Springs Park, and Bassett put up signs that said the lots are for Bassett Healthcare staff parking only.
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Our Opinion: Support the Quiz Team
The Cooperstown high school quiz team will take on faculty in a live quiz showdown on Sunday. The event is being held to help raise money so members of the team can compete nationally in Washington, D.C. Donations will be accepted at the door. The Quiz Bowl is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Sterling Auditorium and we encourage members of the public to go support the team in its academic endeavors.
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Our Opinion: Vote for Pohl
Cooperstown Central School graduate Phil Pohl is among 10 finalist in the Lowe’s Senior Class Award. First off congratulations, Phil. You have always shined on and off the baseball diamond. Pohl graduated at the top of his class and was a two-time Class C New York state Player-of-the-Year while at CCS.
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Our Opinion: Put an end to the chemicals
The use of chemical herbicides and pesticides was the main topic at a meeting of the village’s environmental conservation committee meeting Tuesday morning.
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Our Opinion: Town board made right decision
Last week, the Otsego town board voted to grant the village’s Gateway Project “limited zoning immunity.” The decision nullified a stop work order issued to the project earlier by Otsego Town Code Enforcement Officer Hank Schecher.
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Our Opinion: Small tax increase a good idea
The village board held its public hearing on the budget Monday night and no one showed up to voice opposition to the 2 percent tax increase approved late last month by the trustees.
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Enjoy area activities, attractions
With the rising gas prices many people are counting pennies just to keep food on the table, much less thinking about taking a family vacation.
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Our Opinion: Contest or not, vote
Next Tuesday is the annual village election. Residents will vote for a new mayor and two members of the board of trustees.
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Our Opinion: Roses
Roses to the Cooperstown Concert Series for the completion of another entertaining season. The series has been providing live entertainment for the community during the fall and winter for 42 seasons. Each year the series brings that entertainment to Cooperstown through the efforts of the many volunteeers in the organization. Their efforts and the support of their patrons and sponsors adds a great deal to life in the village.
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Our Opinion: Taking concussions seriously
Traumatic brain injury is a serious public health problem in the United States. Each year, it contributes to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. Recent data shows that, on average, about 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. It is becoming a national concern!
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Our Opinion: Bassett should know better
