Control of Yankees shifts to Hal Steinbrenner

Nov 20, 2008 - 7:34 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Major League Baseball owners approved Hal Steinbrenner as control person of the New York Yankees, Commissioner Bud Selig announced on Thursday.

Steinbrenner, the co-chairman of the team along with his older brother, Hank, will be the liaison between the commissioner's office and the team.

Hank will continue to remain in charge of baseball operations. Hal was named control person because he's in charge of the team's business operations.

The two sons of Yankees chairman George Steinbrenner were put in those positions formally earlier this year. George Steinbrenner, 78, has gradually withdrawn from the Yankees' day-to-day operations in recent years.

George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees on January 3, 1973, and his ownership is the longest current one among baseball's 30 franchises. He will remain as chairman of the Yankees.

The move was approved at an ownership committee meeting on Wednesday and then passed unanimously on Thursday at the joint session of all 30 owners or their representatives.

During George Steinbrenner's ownership, the Yankees have earned 10 pennants and six World Series titles.

He became one of the most high-profile owners in all of sports, dominating the back pages of New York's tabloids as he spent lavishly on players and changed managers 20 times during his first 23 years as owner.

The Yankees regained their former glory under his ownership and were also transformed into a billion-dollar business that owns a cable television network and food concession company.

But Steinbrenner has been in declining health following fainting spells that required hospitalization in December 2003 and October 2006.