George Steinbrenner was a neat freak who liked to keep the House That Ruth Built in order.
On game days, he’d show up at Yankee Stadium before the gates opened and make sure everything was spick-and-span — including the restrooms.
“It would take him about an hour to do it. If he ever found a mess, somebody would get yelled at,” said close friend Mark Simone.
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The Yankees became such fixtures at the White House thanks to their World Series wins in the 1990s that then-President Bill Clinton joked with Steinbrenner about getting too used to the place.
In a statement, Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recalled that in 1999, “as we walked out on the South Lawn together and the band struck up ‘Hail to the Chief,’ Bill playfully reminded George, ‘Don’t get any ideas, it’s not for you.’ ”
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There were two people who intimidated The Boss — one was his tough-as-nails dad, Henry. The other was Yankee legend Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio.
“George was in awe of DiMaggio,” said Simone. “He was a different guy when Joe was around. Very quiet.”
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Steinbrenner had a soft spot for kids.
Simone said that whenever a youngster came up to George and asked him to sign a cap, he’d always oblige.
“If it was one of the cheap hats, he’d say, ‘I’ll sign your cap for you, but I want you to ask your parents if it’s OK for you to give me your address,’ because George wanted to send him a proper cap, a uniform and some tickets.”
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His heart bled Yankee blue — even for players who had left the team by the time Steinbrenner bought the club in 1973.
When George got a letter from the wife of ex-Bomber Joe Pepitone, who had fallen on hard times, Steinbrenner “gave me a job as traveling instructor — out of nowhere — for the minor leagues,” Pepitone said.
“Within a year and a half, I was a major-league hitting instructor because of him.”
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Steinbrenner loved wearing turtlenecks — which he bought at golf pro shops — and he loved eating chicken. But sometimes the two didn’t mix very well.
Simone recalled that on one occasion The Boss wanted to go to the Columbia Club because it served a chicken dish he adored. “I told him, George, you have to wear a tie there. He said, ‘They won’t make me wear a tie.’
“The next thing you know, he’s sitting at the table wearing his turtleneck — and a tie.”
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Steinbrenner liked to conduct business during his restaurant meals, and sometimes use the tablecloth to take notes.
Paranoid that the press would get hold of his scribblings — which would include possible free-agent signings — he’d take the tablecloth away with him, much to the befuddlement of the staff.
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Steinbrenner was a regular character on “Seinfeld,” with actor Lee Bear playing him — always being seen from behind — and “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David doing The Boss’ bombastic voice.
George himself did a cameo — which was left on the cutting-room floor.
He played a guest at the wedding of George and Susan, before the writers decided to kill off Susan before the nuptials.