Easily, the Absolute greatest owner MLB has or will ever see. There will never be another that did so much for the Greatest Game in the World. He loved his New York Yankees, but, more importantly, he loved the Greatest Fans in the world, Yankees Fans. He made sure, that he fielded a team worthy of the City of New York and it's fans. He tried year in and year out to win World Series Championships, that's without question. He believed in spending money, his own money, to get what the Yankees needed to get the job done. He was a visionary, his smartest move other than purchasing the NY Yankees in the first place, was to start his own TV Station, where all of the advertising money went to the Yankees, so George get get the personal they needed. Also, George believed in a Strong minor league system, which by the way, the Yankees have the very best, Farm teams, minor League teams in all of MLB. He realized that the Yankees needed to produce there own youth, and not trade it away like they used to do. And, the Dynasty in the 90's was a direct result of the minor league system, that produced NY Yankees Captain Derek Jeter who was one of the greatest Short Stops ever to play the game, and the rest of the Core Four... Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera. Then least we not forget Bernie Williams, Chein Mien Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Melky, Robinson Cano, Don Mattingly...and so on and son... Yes, Mr George Steinbrenner was easily the greatest MLB Owner in the History of the Game!

His record speaks for itself. Not afraid to spend the money to field a contender. Bullying comes with the turf. He was their boss, not their friend and demanded performance from everyone.

George Steinbrenner is FAR for the best owner. At the top would be Mike Ilitch in Detroit. He's led the Red Wings on a GREATER dynasty than the Yankees enjoyed during Steinbrenner's reign in New York AND bought the Detroit Tigers, turned them around and got them to the World Series BEATING the New York Yankees along the way.

The best owner is Ilitch. Beyond sports he has revitalized HUGE swaths of Detroit. Steinbrenner didn't have that kind of resume as good as he was.

Putting aside the way Steinbrenner ran the Yankees, he was generous with his money by helping those who truly needed help. More importantly he did this without any public bravado.

As for the Yankees. Any fan of any team wants to win championships. Under Steinbrenner's rule the Yanks did just that. So do you want Mr. Nice running the show and have a team that comes in last place; or some SOB who wins World Series?

He may not have been the greatest but he certainly was very near the top. He did what any owner should do--he single-mindedly pursued excellence. The Yankees are, have been, and always will be THE iconic baseball team. Steinbrenner understood that at a visceral level. So what if he bought all the best players? That's what a committed owner would do if he had the money--because that's what it took to remain the best team in all of baseball. And I say this as a lifelong Chicagoan.

Greatest owner in sports history.  Thanks for the drive, the commitment to excellence and keeping the Yankees where they belong - on top of the sports world.

Thou Mr. Steinbrenner may not be the greatest owner, I will say that he was very passionate with the Yankees. He showed the world that by demanding the very best from all in his organization greatness can and will occur. His methods in the past may have been unorthodox but he always wanted to put the best team together to make a run to the World Series. Too bad that many of today’s sports owners forget the reason why they became team owners. Championships. Mr. Steinbrenner never forgot. He truly deserves to be enshrined in MLB’s Hall of Fame. My deepest condolences to his family.

As a baseball team owner - NO. Anyone with the $$ can buy the stars. As a business man - one of the best. As a giving person by deeds unreported to the press - a great man.

i think we should ask costanza

First of all in baseball is Branch Ricky.  Or if you think football is more important there's Lombardi or Halas (who also played briefly for the Yankees in outfield) or Rooney.  So the greatest?  I think not but it's opinion and what sport you like.

The greatest owner in MLB ...yes, if you are measuring greatness by wins.  And if you are measuring greatness by wins...then how do you even pose this question relative to all sports.  Wouldnt the owners of the Celtics during the 60's be above him, we can go down the list, but you get my point.

The man's impact on the game is undeniable and frankly, did wonders for MLB.  But greatness is not always about wins and losses, its about character...and he had plenty of that!!! Both good and bad.   Let's temper this discussion and just say he was the the owner with he greatest impact in MLB.

All of you who put him down obviously don't really have a passion to win for their teams. Why don't you ask the owners of your teams how much money they make because of the Yankees? Your teams sellout when the Yanks come to town and your owners pocket the cash. They receive money from the luxury tax that Steinbrenner pays in every year. They pocket that money too!! Maybe, just maybe, if they re-invested that money into their own teams they could be more competitive. But you have to want to win that badly for your fans to understand that.

He put back the money he made into winning.....can not say that about other owners. The profits he made, he invested it into the team. The LA clippers organization need to take notes.

New Yorkers loved him because he ignored ethics and literally bought the city their championships.  The rest of the world knows he was ruthless and arrogant.

You got to be kidding. George is responsible for single handedly ruining the great game of baseball. George created so much disparity in baseball between the large and small market teams and would never allow the MLB to be ran like the NFL. Was he a good buisness man? Absolutely Was he great for baseball? No way!!! Yankees celebrate championships just like I celebrate my catch of fish after shooting them in a barrel.

Geez, you would have thought they were immortalizing George Herman Ruth instead of George Steinbrenner by all the posthumous cow towing going on in the sports world today. He was an arrogant rich SOB, who bought every pennant or world championship the Yanks ever won. His success was based on his deeper than deep pockets that allowed him to buy the best. As a result all sports has suffered with the legacy of multi million dollar contracts that have ultimately priced millions of fans out of the stadiums across the nation. $5.00 hot dogs $9-10 beers, $25 parking...all this before you even count in the ticket price....$ 22.00 for a friggin' bleacher seat. His tenure brought much happiness to Yankee Fans no doubt, but he screwed the little guy out of his seat in the process. We are lesser for his having been there.

He was an arrogant jerk and will not be missed!

He created the fan who savors winning at any cost with any behavior at any price - a lot of strap-hangers who still choose a team of convenience for which to root.

I have been a staunch Yankee fan since the days of Whitey Ford...so don't think I am a Yankee basher.

GS was not even close to being the greatest owner in either the sport of Baseball or football. He knew less about baseball than thousands of people...he just had money.

His away from baseball philanthropy was wonderful and beneficial to many, many people and that is what I believe he was great at. That is what I will remember him for.