Bill “The Spaceman” Lee’s hatred of George Steinbrenner did not mellow at all with the Yankees owner’s death Tuesday.
Lee, who pitched for the Red Sox for 10 seasons, ripped Steinbrenner in a TV interview.
“Trust me, if hell freezes over, he’ll be skating,” Lee told a reporter for WMUR-9 in Manchester, N.H.
The TV station talked to Lee on a golf course Tuesday afternoon a few hours after Steinbrenner died from a heart attack at 80 years old.
Lee began the 58-second interview by saying, “As far as Steinbrenner’s passing? Good.”
During the 1976 season, Lee famously broke his collarbone during a brawl between the Yankees and Red Sox when Graig Nettles tackled him.
Lee said Steinbrenner tried to have him kicked out of the game after the fight.
“Steinbrenner tried to have me banned from baseball,” he said.
“He said I was an incompetent and I was bad for the game of baseball. Well, I’m not a convicted felon like George Steinbrenner, and he’ll take that to his grave.”
When the reporter asked Lee if he had any sadness about Steinbrenner dying, Lee said, “I have no sadness. I’m Irish; I’m Catholic, and when you’re gone, you’re gone.”
The left-hander was known for his quirky ways and counterculture views. He played 14 years in the majors from 1969-82, the last four with the Expos.