George Steinbrenner Quotations

Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.

Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa.

I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried.

You shouldn't have any betting in the locker room at all, whether it's baseball or it's horses. You can't beat the horses. You can't beat any kind of gambling because they have the odds.

As I have said many times - my father was a great fan of Bill Dickey's and he certainly loved the Yankees. I hope that he would be pleased.

In the end, I'll put my good acts up against those of anybody in this country. Anybody.

We plan absentee ownership as far as running the Yankees is concerned.

Don't talk to me about aesthetics or tradition. Talk to me about what sells and what's good right now. And what the American people like is to think the underdog still has a chance.

I will never have a heart attack. I give them.

As I've always said, the way New Yorkers back us we have to produce for them.

But why shouldn't I speak out? Don't you speak out in this country?

I'm really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch.'

I am tough. Sometimes I'm unreasonable. I have to catch myself every once in a while.

People keep coming up to me and asking, 'How does it feel to be banned for life?' Banned for life. I wasn't banned for life. There was never a word of suspension, probation or ban in that agreement. It was never meant to be part of it.

I am dead set against free agency. It can ruin baseball.

Ruth was probably the greatest athlete to perform in any sport. Never has there been anybody like him.

I don't think that anybody should be suspended for life for anything, other than murder. How is it helping someone to say, 'You're done forever, your life's over'?

I don't want to be in the Hall of Fame. I don't think owners should be.

Is it in the best interest of baseball to sell beer in the ninth inning? Probably not. The rule has got to be more clearly defined. And then some process should be set up where the judge is not also the appeals judge.

I think about the next season right away.

I was often misquoted. I was supportive of my managers, even though they all may not think so.

We applaud the Red Sox for decisively dealing with this matter.

We're going to honor him and welcome him. We're going to give him a New York Yankees welcome.

When he gets with the team here, it will be fine. Count on A-Rod.

I don't know about why they left the left-hander in. He had a good inning and they kept him in there. He should never have pitched to Konerko - he's their best hitter. I'm not pleased with the manager.

I dont know about why they left the left-hander in, ... He had a good inning and they kept him in there. He should never have pitched to Konerko - hes their best hitter. Im not pleased with the manager.

I didn't bring you here to be just one of the guys.

I am concerned because time is getting shorter as each day goes by. We've got to get better, that's for sure. It's never too early. Pitching is my main concern.

Barry was a dear friend, a valued partner for many years and a decent, genuine person. What a great baseball fan he was. I'll miss him dearly.

I loved Herbert. I took him to ball games. He was just a wonderful person, and I really will miss him.

I feel very sorry for Dwight. He left the Yankees in April of his own accord.

I can't do much to teach him anything, but I'm just there so he knows he's got my support.

He treated Dwight like a son. I know it pains him. He has nothing but hope for that kid.

He has the right to do what he wants to do. That's a long time but he's a good player, though. He'll be all right.

He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee.

He looked great. I'm really pleased with Wright.

He's a good man, capable, a very caring person. He puts a lot of energy into his work.

He is very knowledgeable about the game and the business of baseball, and is extremely loyal.

Joe is a good man. I wish him luck and hope he does well.

Joe and I had a great meeting yesterday. We both look forward to bringing a championship back to New York and our great fans.

I think it's bull----. Some good player is going to get hurt and they don't have insurance on him. It's a bad situation. A lot of the players, the smart ones, are dropping out. ... Baseball didn't need this.

Our team played hard, but we let our fans down. We will do better.

Places I Want to Go ... If, You Know, I Decide I Really Want to Go.

Sure, we got punished badly last night, but winners never quit and quitters never win. New Yorkers never quit, and we reflect the spirit of New York.

Sure, there will be some more back out, whether it's our players or somebody else's. I'm used to spring training being to concentrate on the World Series, and that's what we like to see our players do. But we don't tell them not to play.

Jonathan, I couldn't be more proud of you. I agree with you when you said, 'The New York Yankees are important to me, but my school is more important.' You're absolutely right and it takes quite a man to give up his personal dream for a higher purpose.

Jonathan, I couldn't be more proud of you.

That was the only exciting thing that happened today.

Mel Stottlemyre will always be a Yankee. . . . While it is no secret I can be a very difficult boss, Mel has always conducted himself as a professional and a gentleman. I wish he and Jean much success and happiness in the future.

Undoubtedly, you will be very successful regardless of the career path you choose. But just in case you choose major league baseball, I'll be keeping the first base position open for you.

turn my back on someone who has failed and is doing everything possible to turn his life around.

Yes, very impatient. Get out of my way.

We're going to win it this year. We're going after it.

We want Brian to return if we can get him.

Brian is the boss of that. It's up to Brian. We'll see what Brian does. It's in his hands.

Billy Connors was just great. He brought Jaret Wright along great, was patient and he stuck to him with great success.

Billy Connors brought Jaret Wright along with patience. He stuck with him, with great results.

Bill Connors did a wonderful job with Jaret Wright. He brought him along. He was patient, and he stuck with him with great results. What a pro.

There will be some more back-outs. Whether it's our players or somebody else's, I don't know.

I've never seen an athlete dominate any sport -- in baseball, in basketball, in football -- like he dominated this series.

The whole coaching staff is the responsibility of Joe Torre.

They're a good team. They are not going to lose 100 games.

It was indeed the right thing to do.

It is unbelievable to me that the highest-paid team in baseball would start the season in such a deep funk.

It's a lot of time, but he's a good player. He'll be all right.

It makes me feel very good. It really does. He's a good man. I like him. I understand him. I understand what he's after. I'm very happy to have him.

It's an incredible achievement, particularly when I remember that when I bought the Yankees, we had trouble drawing 1 million to the stadium. We have the greatest fans in the world.

The New York Yankees, in heeding the President's call to help the people devastated by this hurricane in the affected areas, are going to donate $1 million to the relief effort, ... This is one of America's greatest natural disasters and tragedies, and it is the responsibility of the American public to step up and help those in need.

I've got no comment. It's all in the manager's hands.

Not good. I'm not going to say any more.

They were both fine young men and great Yankees, and we are praying for their families and loved ones.

They were both fine men and great Yankees.

not pleased with the manager. I don't know why he left him in.

A-Rod demonstrates the talent, hard work, and dedication of a true winner. I look forward to great things for many years from A-Rod as a Yankee.

I'm not pleased with the manager. I don't know why they kept the left-hander in there. ... He should never have pitched to Konerko. Konerko's their best hitter.

I'm proud of them, and delighted for our fans who stuck with us through this tough, exciting season. But this is only the first step toward our goal, a championship.

I hope we do well. Everything pleased me. It's all in the manager's hands.

I'm very happy for him. He's gone through a lot. He's proving he's a winner, and I'm proud of Jason Giambi.

I'm used to spring training being about the World Series.

I'm happy to have him in the fold. He's a gem.

I'm happy to have him in our clubhouse.

I'm concerned that they've got to get their bats going. They've got to get it together and get playing.

I'll go on the record and predict somebody's going to get hurt badly in this damn thing. Somebody's going to get hurt and hurt some team. Baseball didn't need this. It's disrupting spring training.

In acquiring Alex Rodriguez, we are bringing to New York one of the premier players in the history of the game,

He's a nice kid, but he just can't hit in the clutch.

David Cone is in a class by himself with three or four other players

I hate to lose. Hate, hate, hate to lose.

Surround yourself with amazingly intelligent men and women. The people I work with not only are smarter than I am, possessing both intellectual and emotional intelligence, but also share my determination to succeed. I will not make an important decision without them.

When you're entrusted with a tradition, you've got to protect it.

Let's not talk punishment.

If you haven't got a hernia yet, you ain't pulling your share.

Winning was everything. I don’t care what they tell you.

Once in a while, I played second base; once in a while, outfield. But those were just pickup games and softball leagues. So when I bought the Yankees, I tried to stay one pace ahead of the players.

We are the New York Yankees

Breathing first, winning next.

I used to be very hands-on, but lately I've been more hands-off and I plan to become more hands-on and less hands-off and hope that hands-on will become better than hands-off, the way hands-on used to be.

What happens is that all your life you operated businesses in such a way that you could one day afford to buy a baseball team. And then you buy the team and forget all the business practices that enabled you to buy it.

Winning means everything...You show me a good loser and I'll show a loser.

I'm not a win at all costs guy. Winning isn't everything. It's second to breathing

The name Derek Jeter is made for stardom. He's got an infectious smile, and he's so handsome and well-behaved. He's just a fine young man who does everything right. He's like Jack Armstrong and Frank Merriwell, guys I grew up rooting for. Some guys come along who just measure up.