Hank Steinbrenner, the co-owner of the New York Yankees, died at his home in Clearwater, Florida, from a longstanding health issue, the team announced Tuesday. He was 63.
Steinbrenner and his brother Hal inherited the baseball team from their father George, who passed away in 2011.
“Hank was a genuine and gentle spirit who treasured the deep relationships he formed with those closest to him,” the Steinbrenner family said in a statement. “He was introduced to the Yankees organization at a very young age, and his love for sports and competition continued to burn brightly throughout his life.”
Steinbrenner was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 2. He is survived by his four children, one granddaughter and his three siblings.
“Hank could be direct and outspoken, but in the very same conversation show great tenderness and light-heartedness. More than anything, he set an example for all of us in how comfortably he lived enjoying his personal passions and pursuits. We are profoundly saddened to have lost him and will carry his memory with us always,” the statement added.
