‘The Boss’ George Steinbrenner appears for the 79th All-Star Game along with 49 Hall of Famers

The 78-year-old chairman of the Yankees, George Steinbrenner ,  paid a visit on Tuesday night for the 79th All-Star Game - the last to be organized at Yankee Stadium.  After a parade up Sixth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, the Hall of Fame members came to on the field at their various positions in the park that opened in 1923 as a result of the inititaive and determination of Babe Ruth. Next year, the Yankees will move to a new stadium.

Yogi Berra received the loudest cheers as was expected. He played almost his entire career for the New York Yankees and was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Arguably the most beloved baseball player since Babe Ruth, Berra was one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times, and one of only six managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series.

The other significant ones who received cheers included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken Jr., Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter et al. There were some boos too.

Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner came at the end of the ceremony and was driven on a golf cart - so unlikely of him. Apparently he has been sick  but no outsider knows the details of his illness.

His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries have made him one of the sport’s most controversial figures, though his willingness to spend to build the club (and its post-season success since 1976) have earned him grudging respect from some baseball executives, while at the same time earning him contempt from some fans. He is known as a hands-on executive, earning the nickname “The Boss”. His tendency to hire and fire (and occasionally re-hire) managers led then-Yankees skipper Dallas Green to give him the derisive nickname “Manager George”.

During Steinbrenner’s ownership since 1973, the longest in club history, the Yankees have earned 10 pennants and six World Series titles.

The Boss has had his share of controversies also. He famous for both his pursuit of high-priced free agents and, in some cases, infamous for feuding with them. In his first 23 seasons, he changed managers 20 times (including dismissing Billy Martin on five separate occasions), and general managers 11 times in 30 years. In July 1978, Martin said of Steinbrenner and his $3 million outfielder Reggie Jackson, “The two were meant for each other. One’s a born liar, and the other’s convicted.” The comment resulted in Martin’s first departure, though technically Martin resigned (tearfully), before Yankees President Al Rosen followed through on Steinbrenner’s dictum to release the manager.