Stein Apple Falls Not Far From The Tree

Via the Daily News –

[Darryl] Strawberry was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of a baseball tournament on Randall’s Island that was sponsored by Verdero sporting goods, a Bronx-based company founded by Jorge Medina. The Verdero team beat Hank’s Yanks, 8-6. Both teams are 18-and-under.

Hank’s Yanks is a pet project of Steinbrenner’s oldest son Hank, and many of the teenage players come from disadvantaged backgrounds. When Yankees special adviser Ray Negron took some of the players to meet Hank Steinbrenner this past January at the team’s spring training complex in Tampa, Steinbrenner told Negron, “Do whatever we can to help.”

Negron said the team also represents an opportunity for players to be seen by major league talent evaluators. Longtime Yankee scout Cesar Presbott was at the game.

Despite George Steinbrenner’s tempestuous reign over the Bombers, he had a big heart – whether it was pouring money into charities, rehabilitating troubled players such as Strawberry, funding law-enforcement causes, or especially supporting children’s organizations. Before the start of the game, a photograph of The Boss was laid at the pitcher’s mound with a lit candle. Negron, Strawberry and former Yankee Roy White and Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. all gave tributes to the Yankee owner, who died of a heart attack last week at the age of 80.

…Do whatever we can to help…

Hankie gets a lot of heat for being the Billy Carter/Roger Clinton of the Big Stein family, and often. Just thought it was worth noting that he’s not all bad…and has a heart too.