Friday, June 17, 2005
Steinbrenner hints at successor
NEW YORK -- On the day the Yankees' new home was revealed with much fanfare, the team's new direction may have also been revealed by George Steinbrenner -- far more subtly.
The club's owner wasn't among the formal speakers at Wednesday's Stadium Club media conference to announce and detail the new $800 million Yankee Stadium that is to be built beginning next year.
However, his son-in-law, Steve Swindal, did address the gathering of dignitaries, joining Yankees president Randy Levine as the only club officials to do so.
Then Steinbrenner's response to a question following the formal media conference included a veiled reference to Swindal as his successor in running the franchise his family has owned for 32 years.
In discussing the decision to develop a new ballpark for the team in the Bronx, Steinbrenner said, "I think it's very important to the whole family and Steve, who's going to carry on. I think it's important to him to do something great for New York."
That remark has triggered widespread speculation that Steinbrenner, who turns 75 on July 4, has already begun machinations to hand off leadership of the club, and assume a less active role.
Yankees executives present were caught off-guard by the remark. Swindal, married to Steinbrenner's daughter Jennifer, said, "Don't read a whole lot into it."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
The club's owner wasn't among the formal speakers at Wednesday's Stadium Club media conference to announce and detail the new $800 million Yankee Stadium that is to be built beginning next year.
However, his son-in-law, Steve Swindal, did address the gathering of dignitaries, joining Yankees president Randy Levine as the only club officials to do so.
Then Steinbrenner's response to a question following the formal media conference included a veiled reference to Swindal as his successor in running the franchise his family has owned for 32 years.
In discussing the decision to develop a new ballpark for the team in the Bronx, Steinbrenner said, "I think it's very important to the whole family and Steve, who's going to carry on. I think it's important to him to do something great for New York."
That remark has triggered widespread speculation that Steinbrenner, who turns 75 on July 4, has already begun machinations to hand off leadership of the club, and assume a less active role.
Yankees executives present were caught off-guard by the remark. Swindal, married to Steinbrenner's daughter Jennifer, said, "Don't read a whole lot into it."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
