For George Steinbrenner winning was everything

The New York Yankees had reclaimed what they consider their rightful place, atop baseball's throne. They celebrated on opening day, the champions with their rings, and George Steinbrenner came in for a little teasing from the man he had appointed as captain of the team.

Jeter never saw Steinbrenner again. He had planned on visiting him Wednesday or Thursday, before the Yankees resumed their schedule. Steinbrenner died Tuesday, nine days after his 80th birthday and eight months after the Yankees won their first World Series championship in nine years.

To Steinbrenner, any year without a championship was a failure, as Alex Rodriguez learned when he met the owner upon joining the Yankees in 2004.

"Within the first two minutes, he said the words, 'We have to win a world championship,' " Rodriguez said, "about three or four times."

As a young player, Jeter was doubled off base in a game the Yankees won. After the game, Steinbrenner yelled at Jeter never to let that happen again.

"He expected perfection, and that rubbed off," Jeter said. "Whether it was the players, the front office, the people working at the stadium, it didn't make a difference."

Job security virtually depended upon perfection. In his first 20 years as owner, Steinbrenner changed managers 20 times.

"He really made 'You're fired' fashionable," Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield said. " Donald Trump just branded it and marketed it."

Joe Torre accepted the job as Yankees manager in 1995 — in November — and then asked Steinbrenner to let him fly home that night, since his wife was pregnant.

"I'll let you go this time," Steinbrenner told Torre, "but after the baby is born, your [rear] is mine."

Said Torre: "He had no regard for anyone else's life. But those were the ground rules."

Steinbrenner held himself accountable too. He spent lavishly, if not always wisely, in his quest for victory.