Bud Selig, Bob Costas, Jim Kaat, Verducci, Plesac weigh in on Boss

MLB Network sent these Boss quotes: 

Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig:

“George was going to do what was best for the Yankees and he was a giant in the field. Did I always agree with things? No, absolutely not. But in the long run, as we sit here today on the day of his passing, the sport has never been more popular. The sport has never been more vibrant. … Whatever criticism one might level at George, I have to say, as maybe the person in our sport who worked the closest with him, he was a giant in the field and somebody, I don’t mind telling you Bob [Costas] I’m really going to miss.”

Bob Costas:

“This isn’t just a famous person. This is one of the most significant people in baseball history, whether you liked him or not. I don’t know anyone that could have approved of everything he said or did, but on the overview, this guy had a tremendous impact. It’s why ultimately I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame, even with all the misgivings and all the legitimate criticisms. He’s one of the most significant people in baseball history. He had a lot to do in taking baseball, for better or worse, into a different era.”

Al Leiter:

“There are certain people that have a presence and an aura when they walk into the room. In my tenure with the Yankees in the late 1980’s, Steinbrenner came in with the feeling of championships and winning. You realized that his presence in the room was something. It was intimidating and as a player you knew you were going to get the best. He demanded the most out of you as a player and everything was first class right down to the bus and hotel.”

“He wasn’t just an owner that had deep pockets and was able to pay his players. He was around and cared about the little things. He noticed stuff that was on the floor and the way things were being treated. As a player, you appreciated Steinbrenner. There was a demand for winning and a fear factor of 'There’s the boss,' but in the end it was something special to have played for him.”

Tom Verducci:

“If you were a beat writer covering the Yankees in the 1980’s when George was 'The Boss,' it was a 24-hour job. You were on call all the time. A lot of the times, the call was actually from George himself, but unfortunately sometimes, he would actually call another newspaper writer. He played one newspaper off another brilliantly. You never knew when he was going to erupt. Back in those days, [the press] used to call him 'Mr. Tunes,' because it was like dropping a quarter in a juke box. When you went up to talk to George Steinbrenner, you were going to get something. He was going to rip somebody or say something that became a headline. He was unbelievable.”

Jim Kaat:

“I don’t know anyone that has had a greater influence on New York sports than George Steinbrenner since when he bought the Yankees in 1973. … People around him were always worried that he was going to get mad at the broadcasters, but if you stood up for what you believed in, he was going to be okay with it.”

Dan Plesac:

“He turned probably the most historic sports franchise in the United States back to being number one. He brought them from when they were down to the heights they are right now. He will be deeply missed and without question should be in the Hall of Fame.”