George Steinbrenner was born in Rocky River, Ohio on July 4, 1930. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 after graduating from Williams College. He served as an aide to the commanding general at Lockbourne AFB in Ohio. He was responsible for setting up athletic programs and sporting events.

After the Air Force, Steinbrenner worked in college football, as an assistant coach at Northwestern and Purdue. He later joined the family business, American Shipbuilding Company, and made a fortune. He bought the New York Yankees in 1973.

Steinbrenner's time with the Yankees has been marked by both controversy and winning. The Yankees remain the most successful baseball team in America. The Yankees have won the World Series for the last three years, and have won six since Steinbrenner came aboard. But Steinbrenner was suspended for bad behavior from 1990 to 1992. He has kept a lower profile recently.