All Hank Steinbrenner wants for Christmas is for somebody to take him seriously!

It appears as if it’s going to be an interesting 2011 season for the New York Yankees, not only because their archrival Boston Red Sox look like they’re a better team, but also because Hank Steinbrenner, co-owner of the team along with his brother Hal, has apparently decided to be more vocal than he has been for the past two years.  His comments about the 2010 team—specifically his remarks about certain players (i.e. team captain Derek Jeter) being more interested in building mansions than concentrating on game-day pursuits (I don’t think there will be Christmas cards exchanged between the two this coming December)—spells trouble.

Hank, unlike his late father, George, who shot off his mouth for years but did so in a calculated way that showed how smart he really was, seems to spout off at the mouth before thinking things through.  Perhaps this is why Hal—more professional and businesslike in his dealings with the media—has been the spokesperson for ownership for the past couple of years.  Trying to come across as George Jr., Hank is actually showing himself to be more buffoon than intimidator.  He likes to speak his mind and usually does not regret what he says (although he did come out a day after his “mansion” remarks and say he didn’t really say what he said—shades of Yogi Berra?).

In any event, unless those in better control of things at Yankee headquarters in Tampa put a muzzle on their think-before-he-speaks head honcho, it may be an interesting, comical and perhaps quite a volatile season for the Bronx Bombers and the media members who cover them.   Who knows whom he might yet offend?  (Don’t write out those Christmas cards just yet!)

Yankees-inspired 2007 holiday cards sent by George Steinbrenner to his business associates

For 2007, George Steinbrenner sent out tasteful holiday cards to his many business associates. The design was printed on a buff-colored, heavy matte card stock and featured the sentiment “Happy Holidays” printed in dark blue, large letters in a type style known as Lucida Calligraphy. Below this was attached a thin, metallic black-and-gold Christmas ornament featuring a three-inch black ring with a black New York Yankees batting helmet in the center. The words “New York Yankees 2007 Where Players Become Legends” are printed in gold foil, as is the trim on the batting helmet. Mr. Steinbrenner’s signature appears in blue ink at the bottom right-hand corner of the card above the words “New York Yankees” printed in a script font.

George Michael Steinbrenner III was born on July 4, 1930 in Rock River, Ohio. After a stint in the Air Force and as an assistant football coach at Northwestern and Purdue Universities, he became owner and CEO of his father’s multimillion dollar Cleveland-based shipbuilding company. This allowed him to head the investment group which purchased America’s most famous baseball franchise in 1973.

The early years of Steinbrenner’s tenure were filled with both controversy and great achievements. He drew the ire of many in the game by inking superstars Goose Gossage and Reggie Jackson to record free-agent contracts. He was suspended in 1976 for having made illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and returned to see his beloved Yankees capture back-to-back World Series titles in 1977 and 1978.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Steinbrenner became most famous for making 17 managerial changes in his first 17 years with the team, including hiring and firing Billy Martin five times. In 1990, Steinbrenner was again banned by baseball for making an illegal payment to confessed-gambler Howie Spira to dig up damaging information on former star player and nemesis Dave Winfield (talk about the Grinch who stole Christmas). He returned in 1993 in time to see the Yanks become a dynasty, winning the World Series in 1996 and from 1998-2000.

George Steinbrenner remains controversial with a string of high-priced free agent signings which has taken the team payroll over $200 million in recent years – $70 million higher than their nearest competitor and $140 million higher than the average baseball payroll. Some critics have even accused Steinbrenner of trying to buy the championship ring, dubbing the Yankees the “Evil Empire.”