George Steinbrenner Quotes

Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.

You shouldn't have any betting in the locker room at all, whether it's baseball or it's horses. You can't beat the horses. You can't beat any kind of gambling because they have the odds.

Don't talk to me about aesthetics or tradition. Talk to me about what sells and what's good right now. And what the American people like is to think the underdog still has a chance.

Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa.

I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried.

Winning means everything...You show me a good loser and I'll show a loser.

I will never have a heart attack. I give them.

Second place is really the first loser.

He's the leader on this team, I know when Baltimore let us have him, they thought they were giving us a problem. I'll take problems like that anytime.

But why shouldn't I speak out? Don't you speak out in this country?

My best and worst boss was the same man - my father. He never - and I mean never - took 'I can't' for an answer. He taught me the value system that, to this day, I have continued to practice.

I guess heaven needed a shortstop.

I am dead set against free agency. It can ruin baseball.

Once in a while, I played second base; once in a while, outfield. But those were just pickup games and softball leagues. So when I bought the Yankees, I tried to stay one pace ahead of the players.

Why would you want to stay manager and be second-guessed by me when you can come up into the front-office and be one of the second-guessers?

I haven't always made the right decisions.

As I have said many times - my father was a great fan of Bill Dickey's and he certainly loved the Yankees. I hope that he would be pleased.

I won't be active in the day-to-day operations of the ball club at all.

I'm really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch.'

Ruth was probably the greatest athlete to perform in any sport. Never has there been anybody like him.

I don't want to be in the Hall of Fame. I don't think owners should be.

We plan absentee ownership as far as running the Yankees is concerned.

When you're entrusted with a tradition, you've got to protect it.

Irabu is a fat, pus-y toad.

It was the class and dignity which he led his life that made him part of all of us. I will forever treasure the close friendship we shared over the years.

I am tough. Sometimes I'm unreasonable. I have to catch myself every once in a while.

I'm pretty excited, this is a big, big one.

David Cone is in a class by himself with three or four other players.

He says all the right things, like it's Jeter's team. I want to correct him on that - it's my team.

If you don't have a hernia yet then you're not pulling your own weight!

Breathing first, winning next.

Winning was everything. I don’t care what they tell you.

I hate to lose. Hate, hate, hate to lose.

I was often misquoted. I was supportive of my managers, even though they all may not think so.

Let's not talk punishment.

I'm not a win at all costs guy. Winning isn't everything. It's second to breathing.

In the end, I'll put my good acts up against those of anybody in this country. Anybody.

We are the New York Yankees

I'll stick to building ships.

If you haven't got a hernia yet, you ain't pulling your share.

I don't think that anybody should be suspended for life for anything, other than murder. How is it helping someone to say, 'You're done forever, your life's over'?