TAMPA, FL - APRIL 01: Owner George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees talks with his son, Hank, against the Philadelphia Phillies at George Steinbrenner Field April 1, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

In addition to his work with the New York Yankees, Hank Steinbrenner’s legacy is defined by what he did for kids in the Bronx.

Rich Mancuso, Yankee Stadium

“He was an aggressive, great baseball guy, and had a tremendous heart. He reminded me a lot of his dad. Same type of guy. Tremendous heart.”

Dwight Gooden said that about Hank Steinbrenner. He and the baseball world were sad to hear about his passing Tuesday. George’s eldest son, older brother of Hal, at 63 years of age gave in to complications at his home in Clearwater, FL after a long-standing health issue.

The Yankees announced the passing. They said in a statement his death had nothing to do with complications from coronavirus. Sources said family members were at his side.

Hank, seen rarely at the ballpark, was not known to be ill and spent a good amount of his time at the Yankees Steinbrenner Field complex in Tampa. He was second in command to Hal, 13 seasons as a general partner and 11th as co-chairperson.

Ray Negron, the former Yankees batboy, with that long time association under the late George Steinbrenner, is a community assistant with the club and worked under Hank. Negron introduced yours truly to Hank Steinbrenner in early June of 2016 at the Ferry Point Golf course in the Bronx. An overcast day in early June of 2016, Hank Steinbrenner was conducting brief media interviews at his annual charity event for Hank’s Yanks.

Hank’s Yanks were his legacy. The community initiative, founded by Hank, and it was Negron who made it possible. They saw the value of underprivileged youngsters who aspired to play organized baseball.

Hank, along with Negron, made it a mission to make certain that kids who wanted to play baseball in the NY tri-state area would get that opportunity. They would develop their skills and get assistance to play ball at the college level.

Not many are aware, but kids were first and foremost for Hank Steinbrenner. That was his legacy. So was the Bronx. The Yankees were always important.

And then it was my turn. Hank was standing by the clubhouse at Ferry Point. He said hello to the many supporters who ventured into the nearby tent for the lunch, awards, and the memorabilia auction that assisted with raising money for his Hank’s Yanks kids.

This was not George Steinbrenner. No security near Hank, and as much time as he could. He was that type of individual.

As he informed me, and many times more, the Bronx was important. The Yankees and the Bronx were a team. The youngsters in the community were also a vital part of that to Hank Steinbrenner.

His responsibilities for the Yankees was overseeing the club’s business and baseball operations with contract negotiations and strategy. The first item of business, discussed with Hank that day in June, wasn’t the overall direction of the Yankees, though, that was discussed and the answers were honest and to the point.

Hank’s Yanks, though, was his legacy and a major part of his concern was the kids and their goals of playing organized baseball. Hank gave the power to Hal to handle the Yankees after assuming ownership when his dad passed away in 2010.

But, he wanted the best for kids in the community and it all started in the vicinity of Yankee Stadium.

Thousands of kids over the years, over 100 or more, were able to play ball at major colleges and quite a few signed to contracts on the professional level. They will never forget the efforts of Hank Steinbrenner and Ray Negron because of Hank’s Yanks.

“Ray Negron started it years ago with one team,” said Steinbrenner then.

He said then, in that first meeting, “It was for kids in the area with different age groups for little leagues to present them in an opportunity especially in areas that don’t have a lot of little league action. It helped develop players, but mostly for fun.”

It became more than fun. The kids have lived their dream and it is owed to Hank Steinbrenner. They still play organized baseball with the assistance of this program in the tri-state area, and the golf outings over the years have been successful.

Current Yankees, the legends, and those from the corporate community who contribute to the cause have always been there for the kids and for Hank.

“Eventually when they get older, obviously they are not all going to play Major League Baseball, but it’s to help with college and give advice on colleges,” Hank said about his organization.

“We have kids that we helped get into college and we have had players drafted. It’s just for the kids, real youngsters or high school age. It gives them an outlet to be associated with the Yankees. “

Negron, said Hank, gave him the idea to be associated with the youth. To this day, Negron is still actively involved and continuing the legacy.

Then known as the, T M Baseball Academy in the Bronx, now the Baseball Training Institute, Tony and Jessy Melendez were at that golf outing in 2016.

Negron was the clincher. Hank was informed about the efforts of Melendez, and that dedication to youngsters. Soon T M was the newest member of Hank’s Yanks and represented the Bronx.

“As some have heard me share in the past, I’m a huge Yankee fan mostly because of ‘The Boss’ and the day I met Hank, I shared my admiration for the family,” Jessy said.

“I remember like it was yesterday. We were at the golf outing fundraiser for our newly formed Bronx Hank’s Yanks, I was in awe of how much he resembled his dad. He was so gracious and warm.”

And it was the Yankees, because Hal wanted to see the proper direction and continue a legacy of this new dynasty his dad built in the Bronx. He was concerned about long-term contracts, and more so for the duration and stress of signing a good arm for the rotation.

We can’t dispute Hal. Years later, a rising number of pitchers with long-term contracts have been victims of Tommy John surgery. Hal was also conscious of the luxury tax and the financial structure of the game.

It was about the Yankees and that direction. So much, this Steinbrenner resembled his late father.

Said Steinbrenner about the lack of wins, at a time when the Yankees needed more after a 2009 World Series championship,  “It constantly bothers us. Wish we could do more like it used to be but revenue sharing is killing us. We didn’t have that in the 90s. Next year we will have more money to spend.“

He mentioned how important pitching was for the minor league system. The Yankees said they had a few prospects almost ready to make the jump to the Bronx and Luis Severino was one of them.

“Cause pitching is everything,” Hank said. “Problem is when you pay a lot of money for a free agent pitcher there’s the injury risk. You get a lot more money for the pitcher obviously than the position player. Teams want pitching the most and they will pay for it. But the problem is you take that big risk. The more you can develop obviously your own pitchers in the minors, the better.”

Steinbrenner said then, the Yankees were committed to drafting more pitching over the next 10 years. It has worked. The Yankees have one of the top minor league systems in baseball.

“Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t,” he said. There were no hints of shakeups then and it was well known that the Yankees had to go to war the remainder of that season with the roster as constructed.

But it was this comment that clinched a deal here.

“I need to get up here and do more in the Bronx,” he said. “My dad always taught me that America is the Land of Milk and Honey but unfortunately it isn’t that way for everybody. We got to try and do and make it that way.”

“That was a term he always used. We have to start and get it going,” he said.

He got it going. Hank’s Yanks is that legacy in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten, Brooklyn. and other parts of the tri-state area.

Rest In Peace Hank. Condolences to the Yankees and Steinbrenner family.

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