George Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930 – July 13, 2010) was an American businessman and sports executive, best known as the principal owner of the New York Yankees from 1973 until his death. Born in Rocky River, Ohio, to Rita (née Haley) and Henry George Steinbrenner II, a maritime executive, George grew up in a wealthy family with German and Irish roots. He attended Culver Military Academy, then Williams College (BA in English, 1952), before earning an MBA from New York University in 1956.
Steinbrenner began his career in family businesses, joining Kinsman Marine Transit in Cleveland after military service in the Air Force Reserve. In 1967, he orchestrated a merger forming the American Ship Building Company, becoming its CEO. His business ventures expanded into entertainment and politics; he was a Nixon fundraiser and briefly involved in the Cleveland Pipers basketball team.
In January 1973, Steinbrenner led a group of investors to buy the Yankees from CBS for $10 million (equivalent to about $70 million today), personally investing $2.65 million. Under his ownership, he transformed the franchise from mediocrity to a dynasty, investing heavily in talent and facilities. The Yankees won World Series titles in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998–2000, and 2009. His hands-on, often controversial style—firing managers (15 in 17 years, including Billy Martin multiple times) and public feuds—earned him the nickname "The Boss." He faced bans from baseball twice: a 15-month suspension in 1974 for illegal campaign contributions, and a 2.5-year ban in 1990 for paying a gambler to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield.
Beyond baseball, Steinbrenner owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976–1990, sold for profit) and bred thoroughbred horses. A conservative Republican, he donated to Florida State University (naming its aquatic center after his family). Health issues, including a heart attack in 1996, led to gradual ceding of control to his sons; Hal took over in 2008. Steinbrenner died of a heart attack at age 79; his net worth was estimated at $1.1 billion. He is remembered for reviving the Yankees' dominance amid his brash persona.
Steinbrenner never owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their owners were:
1974–1994
Hugh Culverhouse
Original owner. Purchased the expansion franchise for $16 million in 1974 (team began play in 1976). Widely criticized for frugality and poor management. Died in 1994, triggering sale of the team.
1995–2014
Malcolm Glazer and family
Purchased the team in January 1995 for $192 million (at the time the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise). Malcolm Glazer died in May 2014, but ownership remained with the Glazer family.
2014–present
Glazer family (estate/trust)
After Malcolm Glazer’s death, the team passed to his six children. The estate is run by the five sons (Bryan, Joel, Avram, Kevin, and Edward Glazer) and daughter Darcie Glazer Kassewitz serve as co-chairmen. Joel Glazer is the most public-facing owner and the one who primarily speaks for the franchise. The family also owns Manchester United.
Thanks for the correction, @taskmaster4450le. I've noted that George Steinbrenner was involved in the bidding for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 but did not acquire them. The team's ownership history is as you outlined:
1974–1994: Hugh Culverhouse – Original owner; bought for $16 million.
1995–2014: Malcolm Glazer and family – Purchased for $192 million, a record at the time.
2014–present: Glazer family (estate/trust) – Managed by the six children, with Joel Glazer as the primary representative. They also own Manchester United.
American Ship Building Company (ASBC) was formed in 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, as a shipbuilding conglomerate to consolidate fragmented yards along the Great Lakes. Organized by a syndicate led by Alexander McDougall and backed by financiers like J.P. Morgan, it combined 16 yards (including Lorain, Cleveland, and Erie lines) with $25 million in capital. The goal was to dominate U.S. naval and commercial shipbuilding, leveraging the steel boom and Panama Canal era. By 1904, it built over 500 vessels, but antitrust scrutiny and industry downturns hit hard.
In the 1950s, ASBC modernized for oil tankers and supertankers amid global trade growth. George Steinbrenner III, scion of a maritime family, joined as assistant to the president in 1957, becoming president in 1963 and chairman in 1967. Under him, it expanded via acquisitions (e.g., Ingalls Shipbuilding in 1965 for $175 million) and diversified into yachts and real estate, peaking at $200 million revenue by 1972. Steinbrenner, a shipping magnate, used profits to buy the New York Yankees in 1973.
The 1970s-80s brought labor strife and recession; ASBC faced union battles, closing unprofitable yards. In 1977, it filed for bankruptcy, emerging restructured but weakened. Steinbrenner shifted focus to the Yankees. By 1980, the company owned key yards in Lorain, Ohio; Tampa, Florida; and others. Frustrated with unions, Steinbrenner closed Lorain in 1983, consolidating in Tampa (renamed Tampa Shipyards), where he had ties from his father's Kinsman Lines.
In 1982, Steinbrenner sold controlling interest but retained influence. The 1980s saw further decline; it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987 and again in 1993 amid debts and market shifts to foreign builders. Post-1993, it reorganized under new ownership, shedding yards and focusing on repairs. By 1996, it was acquired by Friede Goldman Halter, then bankrupt in 2000. Assets fragmented: Tampa yard became Gulf Marine Repair; Lorain site razed for development.
Today, no single "ASBC" entity exists; remnants operate as independent shipyards (e.g., Bollinger Shipyards acquired parts). The legacy endures in U.S. maritime history, though Steinbrenner's era marked its commercial peak before globalization eroded domestic dominance.
Top U.S. shipbuilders in 2025, based on market presence, output, and naval/commercial focus:
General Dynamics NASSCO (San Diego, CA): Leads in commercial and military vessels, including tankers and amphibious ships for the Navy. Part of the "Big Six" shipyards; key player in LNG carriers.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News, VA; Pascagoula, MS): Largest by workforce (~42,000). Builds nuclear-powered carriers (e.g., USS Gerald R. Ford class) and submarines. Dominates naval contracts.
BAE Systems Ship Repair (Jacksonville, FL; San Diego, CA): Specializes in maintenance, repair, and overhaul of Navy ships. Handles destroyers and cruisers; growing in unmanned vessel tech.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Marinette, WI): Focuses on littoral combat ships and frigates for the Navy. Expanding with Constellation-class frigates; strong in Great Lakes region.
Austal USA (Mobile, AL): Experts in aluminum high-speed vessels, including Expeditionary Fast Transports and unmanned surface vessels. Boosting export capabilities.
The industry faces challenges like foreign competition and subsidies, but DoD contracts drive growth. About 120 yards total, with these topping production.
George Steinbrenner III (July 4, 1930 – July 13, 2010) was an American businessman and sports executive, best known as the principal owner of the New York Yankees from 1973 until his death. Born in Rocky River, Ohio, to Rita (née Haley) and Henry George Steinbrenner II, a maritime executive, George grew up in a wealthy family with German and Irish roots. He attended Culver Military Academy, then Williams College (BA in English, 1952), before earning an MBA from New York University in 1956.
Steinbrenner began his career in family businesses, joining Kinsman Marine Transit in Cleveland after military service in the Air Force Reserve. In 1967, he orchestrated a merger forming the American Ship Building Company, becoming its CEO. His business ventures expanded into entertainment and politics; he was a Nixon fundraiser and briefly involved in the Cleveland Pipers basketball team.
In January 1973, Steinbrenner led a group of investors to buy the Yankees from CBS for $10 million (equivalent to about $70 million today), personally investing $2.65 million. Under his ownership, he transformed the franchise from mediocrity to a dynasty, investing heavily in talent and facilities. The Yankees won World Series titles in 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998–2000, and 2009. His hands-on, often controversial style—firing managers (15 in 17 years, including Billy Martin multiple times) and public feuds—earned him the nickname "The Boss." He faced bans from baseball twice: a 15-month suspension in 1974 for illegal campaign contributions, and a 2.5-year ban in 1990 for paying a gambler to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield.
Beyond baseball, Steinbrenner owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976–1990, sold for profit) and bred thoroughbred horses. A conservative Republican, he donated to Florida State University (naming its aquatic center after his family). Health issues, including a heart attack in 1996, led to gradual ceding of control to his sons; Hal took over in 2008. Steinbrenner died of a heart attack at age 79; his net worth was estimated at $1.1 billion. He is remembered for reviving the Yankees' dominance amid his brash persona.
Update your database
Steinbrenner never owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their owners were:
1974–1994
Hugh Culverhouse
Original owner. Purchased the expansion franchise for $16 million in 1974 (team began play in 1976). Widely criticized for frugality and poor management. Died in 1994, triggering sale of the team.
1995–2014
Malcolm Glazer and family
Purchased the team in January 1995 for $192 million (at the time the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise). Malcolm Glazer died in May 2014, but ownership remained with the Glazer family.
2014–present
Glazer family (estate/trust)
After Malcolm Glazer’s death, the team passed to his six children. The estate is run by the five sons (Bryan, Joel, Avram, Kevin, and Edward Glazer) and daughter Darcie Glazer Kassewitz serve as co-chairmen. Joel Glazer is the most public-facing owner and the one who primarily speaks for the franchise. The family also owns Manchester United.
Thanks for the correction, @taskmaster4450le. I've noted that George Steinbrenner was involved in the bidding for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995 but did not acquire them. The team's ownership history is as you outlined:
Give me an in depth history of American Ship Building Company, owned by George Steinbrenner. Start from its formation until today (if possible).
American Ship Building Company (ASBC) was formed in 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, as a shipbuilding conglomerate to consolidate fragmented yards along the Great Lakes. Organized by a syndicate led by Alexander McDougall and backed by financiers like J.P. Morgan, it combined 16 yards (including Lorain, Cleveland, and Erie lines) with $25 million in capital. The goal was to dominate U.S. naval and commercial shipbuilding, leveraging the steel boom and Panama Canal era. By 1904, it built over 500 vessels, but antitrust scrutiny and industry downturns hit hard.
In the 1950s, ASBC modernized for oil tankers and supertankers amid global trade growth. George Steinbrenner III, scion of a maritime family, joined as assistant to the president in 1957, becoming president in 1963 and chairman in 1967. Under him, it expanded via acquisitions (e.g., Ingalls Shipbuilding in 1965 for $175 million) and diversified into yachts and real estate, peaking at $200 million revenue by 1972. Steinbrenner, a shipping magnate, used profits to buy the New York Yankees in 1973.
The 1970s-80s brought labor strife and recession; ASBC faced union battles, closing unprofitable yards. In 1977, it filed for bankruptcy, emerging restructured but weakened. Steinbrenner shifted focus to the Yankees. By 1980, the company owned key yards in Lorain, Ohio; Tampa, Florida; and others. Frustrated with unions, Steinbrenner closed Lorain in 1983, consolidating in Tampa (renamed Tampa Shipyards), where he had ties from his father's Kinsman Lines.
In 1982, Steinbrenner sold controlling interest but retained influence. The 1980s saw further decline; it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987 and again in 1993 amid debts and market shifts to foreign builders. Post-1993, it reorganized under new ownership, shedding yards and focusing on repairs. By 1996, it was acquired by Friede Goldman Halter, then bankrupt in 2000. Assets fragmented: Tampa yard became Gulf Marine Repair; Lorain site razed for development.
Today, no single "ASBC" entity exists; remnants operate as independent shipyards (e.g., Bollinger Shipyards acquired parts). The legacy endures in U.S. maritime history, though Steinbrenner's era marked its commercial peak before globalization eroded domestic dominance.
Who are the major shipbuilders in the United States? Give me a list of the top 5 based upon ships built.
What are the top shipbuilders in the United States?
#askleo
Top U.S. shipbuilders in 2025, based on market presence, output, and naval/commercial focus:
General Dynamics NASSCO (San Diego, CA): Leads in commercial and military vessels, including tankers and amphibious ships for the Navy. Part of the "Big Six" shipyards; key player in LNG carriers.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News, VA; Pascagoula, MS): Largest by workforce (~42,000). Builds nuclear-powered carriers (e.g., USS Gerald R. Ford class) and submarines. Dominates naval contracts.
BAE Systems Ship Repair (Jacksonville, FL; San Diego, CA): Specializes in maintenance, repair, and overhaul of Navy ships. Handles destroyers and cruisers; growing in unmanned vessel tech.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Marinette, WI): Focuses on littoral combat ships and frigates for the Navy. Expanding with Constellation-class frigates; strong in Great Lakes region.
Austal USA (Mobile, AL): Experts in aluminum high-speed vessels, including Expeditionary Fast Transports and unmanned surface vessels. Boosting export capabilities.
The industry faces challenges like foreign competition and subsidies, but DoD contracts drive growth. About 120 yards total, with these topping production.