It was a small serif monogram centered on the top of the pocket. The shirt was always a white oxford button down. The monogram was always blue. I never heard an employee call him, 'the boss.' He was, 'GMS.' "GMS is pissed off about this." "You gotta stay at the hotel GMS owns." "GMS won't let me go." And the infamous, "GMS wants cinnamon toast."
For almost four years I handled an account called the NY Yankees. There are a lot of stories that came from it. But for now there is only the monogram. GMS. By the time I came along GMS was wearing white turtlenecks. But employees wore his 'hand me down' white oxfords with his blue monogram. From the man who cut grass to the man who bought the insurance. Those monogrammed shirts were everywhere.
A man with an amazing presence. Life long Yankee fan, I appreciate George Steinbrenner (Mr. Steinbrenner) in every iteration but the George of the last 15 years was certainly the best for the club many of us love. Thanks, TinTin.
ReplyDeleteDid the man who handled the account ever receive one of the shirts?
ReplyDeleteYou are a dark horse Tintin.
ReplyDeleteGood Tervis Tumblers advice by the way.... only thing for summer drinks. Especially if your icemaker is on the fritz. You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille.....
C'mon he was a bastard. Quite an effective bastard as bastards often are let's not get carried away with the organ music here.
ReplyDeleteOne thing's for sure...everyone's gonna have an opinion about Steinbrenner. And for certain, a lot of folks will hang the asshole moniker on him. But there was a sports journalist on the radio yesterday talking about this "big meaty hand" that cupped the back of his 12 year old neck and ushered him to a pew amidst a service for a recently departed sports writer. The journalist at 12, was a sports fanatic and read the deceased guys stuff every day. He took the bus, alone, to the church. Scared shitless to walk in and almost ready to turn around and run, Steinbrenner saw something "legit" in this kids presence and assured his safe passage through a gauntlet of other biggies at said wake/funeral.
ReplyDeleteAnon- Dealing with the Yankees was a lot like being in the Army. A great experience. Lots of stories. But if I were to do it all over again? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteHeavy Tweed- No, but the CFO snagged a couple of Reggie Jackson's NY Yankee monogrammed shirts. Tiny little Yankee 'NY' logo on the pocket. Beautiful.
E & E - C'mon? I'm a noir horse.
Joe- I don't hear an organ. You hear an organ?
"Joe- I don't hear an organ. You hear an organ?"
ReplyDelete...turn your hearing aid on....old George was a heck of a baseball manager but no need to get carried away. I always remember a robust anecdote about Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick (he of the wonderful collection). Frick was Carnegie's longtime enforcer but they fell out when the company was sold and a few years later Carnegie tried to kiss and make up to which Frick sent a reply "tell Andy I'll see him in hell because that's where were both going."