The George Steinbrenner saga

July 4, 1930: George M. Steinbrenner III is born in Rocky River, Ohio, to Rita and Henry Steinbrenner. The latter was the son of George Steinbrenner II and was a lifelong perfectionist who had been a hurdles champion at MIT.

1955: Assistant football coach for Lou Saban at Northwestern, was fired along with the rest of the staff after 0-8-1 season.

1961-63: Owned Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League. Signed future Knicks Dick Barnett and Jerry Lucas and was working on a deal to join the NBA when the ABL folded.

Jan. 3, 1973: Says at news conference announcing his group's purchase of the Yankees from CBS: "We plan absentee ownership."

Nov. 27, 1974: Suspended for two years by baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn for having made illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's re-election campaign in 1972.

Dec. 31, 1974: Yankees sign free-agent pitcher Catfish Hunter to five-year, $3.75-million deal.

Oct. 18, 1977: Says after Yankees' first world championship in 15 years: "Next year, we'll be even tougher to beat."

July 24, 1978: Under pressure from Steinbrenner, to whom he referred as "convicted," Billy Martin resigns as manager.

July 29, 1978: In surprise Old-Timers' Day announcement that Steinbrenner kept from even his team president, Martin is introduced as manager for 1980.

Oct. 25, 1981: After 2-1 loss to Dodgers in Game 5 of World Series, has his hand heavily bandaged because of what he reported was a fight in a hotel elevator.

July 30, 1990: Banned from baseball for life by commissioner Fay Vincent for payments made to Howie Spira for information on Dave Winfield.

Oct. 20, 1990: Hosts "Saturday Night Live" as one of his former favorite Yankees, Lou Piniella, manages the Reds to the world championship.

March 1, 1993: Having been reinstated and having posed for Sports Illustrated's cover dressed like Napoleon on a horse, returns to the club's spring training complex in Fort Lauderdale.

Oct. 26, 1996:Accepts World Series trophy from commissioner Bud Selig, former Brewers owner and longtime Steinbrenner friend.

March 19, 2002: Debut of YES Network, which reportedly would fetch an offer of $3 billion from a potential buyer in 2007.

Aug. 16, 2006: With shovel in hand, hugs Mayor Michael Bloomberg at groundbreaking for new Yankee Stadium.

March 27, 2008: Legends Field in Tampa, the Yankees' spring training home, is renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field.

July 15, 2008: Tearfully rides on golf cart around the warning track at Yankee Stadium and presents baseballs for ceremonial first pitches at final All-Star Game at old Yankee Stadium.

April 16, 2009: Attends Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium.