George Steinbrenner, our very own P.T. Barnum

So let me get this straight right from the beginning. I am a Yankee fan, have been for almost 50 years. I listen to my grandmother and uncle tell stories about Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizutto, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. I started to take notice of the Yankees in 1964 right when they went into the toilet for 13 years. All I got was Horace Clarke and Dooley Womack. Then George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for chump change - $160,000 of his own money and investor’s money totaling less than 9 million dollars. Today they are worth over a billion dollars, the most valuable sports franchise ever. Don’t get me wrong, George had some severe warts in his storied 37 year ownership. But he also got a fist full of rings and trophies and brought the Yankees back to the prominence they deserved.

In the midst of all this, I thought of the similarities between King George and P. T. Barnum and thought I would lay some out for you. You know P. T. Barnum, the entertainer, showman and business mogul. The man who is falsely attributed with saying there is a sucker born every minute. No, he didn’t say that, a newspaper man said it in a story about how P.T. always knew how to make a buck. Suffice it to say that this is where the comparisons just begin.

Both men were successful business men early in their lives. George in the very successful shipping business, while P.T. had several businesses, was the mayor of Bridgeport CT. and help to revamp the theater business in NYC to feature more family entertainment. He opened the countries first aquarium and first wax museum and provided entertainment to millions. George acquired the Yankees in 1973 in his mid 40’s. P.T. Barnum entered the circus field at age 60. George took a undervalued product and brought it to prominence again. Ever hear of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. George completed changed the way the Yankees did baseball, including the development of a business model in the earlier stages of cable TV that became a major player in the TV business, the YES network. P.T. Barnum introduced the use of trains to move his circus from city to city, vastly improving the product and making it available to the masses. Given the lack of paved highways in America, this turned out to be a shrewd business move that enlarged Barnum's market. Both had a philanthropic side, little known, that included money for books and education and the US Olympic Training facility from George and essentially starting Tufts University by Barnum.

On the negative side of the ledger, both men had their faults and run ins with the legal profession. George was banned from baseball twice, for illegal campaign contributions and for the messy Spira affair with Dave Winfield. Barnum was hauled into court numerous times on charges of fraud and libel and declaired bankrupcy more than once.

The comparisons continue. Barnum was well known for his hoaxes and hype in the entertainment field, something he felt was alright as long as the public got their money’s worth. George changed managers and general managers and office staff like most people change socks but always wanted to give the people what they paid for. Both Barnum and Steinbrenner knew the best place to be was on the front page of the newspaper and on the tips of the tongue’s of those following them. Barnum was 81 when he died, George 80. They both left behind a legacy of hard work and successes and names that will be remembered forever.

I can think of a lot worse things than being described as a modern day P.T. Barnum or a precursor to George Steinbrenner. Both of these gentlemen were hated by some, revered by others but mostly made themselves and their product undeniably well known.