George Steinbrenner isn't known as “The Boss” because of his generous reputation.
The New York Yankees' 75-year-old owner is famous for his surly demeanor and his no-nonsense approach to running an organization.
But don't tell that to Sydney Lattimore, 10, or her brother, Sean, 9. The budding Yankee fans and their parents were granted front-row tickets at Yankee Stadium for New York's home opener April 11 courtesy of Steinbrenner himself.
The Auburn family's encounter with baseball's most controversial owner occurred on a last-minute spring break trip by the Lattimores. Sean Sr. and his wife, Beth, decided to take their two children to New York City for a few days and
ended up staying in the hotel where Steinbrenner lives.
“My wife and I went down to the lobby and all of a sudden a guy came in and he looked familiar,” Sean Sr. said of his first encounter with Steinbrenner. “I looked down at his hand and saw the (World Series) rings and knew it was him. I went over and introduced my son and daughter and he immediately was taken by them.”
He said his family's conversation with Steinbrenner was “just like talking with one of your relatives.”
“It was cool,” Sydney said. “He was really nice.”
The next morning, the day of the Yankees' opener against the Kansas City Royals, Steinbrenner was once again in the hotel lobby. When he saw the Lattimores get off the elevator, Steinbrenner signaled for Sydney and Sean Jr. to come over to him. That's when he offered up his own personal seats.
The Auburn family quickly accepted the exclusive tickets.
“Mr. Steinbrenner asked the kids if they were going to the baseball game,” Sean Sr. said. “They said they didn't have tickets so he reached in his blazer and pulled out four tickets. He turned to them and said, ‘You'll love these seats, they're my seats.'”
“He was so good with the kids,” Beth said. “You would just think he was a regular guy. I don't think Sean and Sydney grasped who he was. Some day, when they're 20, they'll realize what actually happened that day.”
Steinbrenner's tickets - Row A, Seats 1, 2, 3 and 4 - are front row, third base side, directly next to the opposing teams dugout. Sydney and Sean Jr. got to see their favorite players up close and even walked away with two foul balls - one from Derek Jeter and another from Hideki Matsui.
“That was my favorite part - getting the foul balls,” Sean Jr. said. “And the good part about it, it was my dad's birthday and that was really good.”
The game was a first for the Lattimore family and both Sean Sr. and Beth made sure their children walked away with plenty of Yankee merchandise.
“We bought T-shirts, flags and baseballs and a baseball cap,” Sydney said. “And we have our tickets.”
Sydney and Sean Jr. may not recognize the magnitude of the occasion, but they won't forget their first visit to Yankee Stadium.
“When you go to the stadium, you can't walk away without being in awe,” Beth said. “Sean hasn't taken off his new (Yankee) hat since that day. They're always wearing their Jeter T-shirts now.”
When the family arrived back at the hotel after the game, there again was ever-giving Steinbrenner.
“We went back after the game to get our luggage and he came right over to the kids,” Sean Sr. said. “He was chuckling with them. He asked them, ‘Were the seats good enough?' You never see that side of him but we've shared the stories with a bunch of people and different people have come up with some really special stories of Steinbrenner. He's got a real big heart and personal side that people seldom get to see.”
Staff writer Ryan Day can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 258 or at ryan.day@lee.net
But don't tell that to Sydney Lattimore, 10, or her brother, Sean, 9. The budding Yankee fans and their parents were granted front-row tickets at Yankee Stadium for New York's home opener April 11 courtesy of Steinbrenner himself.
The Auburn family's encounter with baseball's most controversial owner occurred on a last-minute spring break trip by the Lattimores. Sean Sr. and his wife, Beth, decided to take their two children to New York City for a few days and
ended up staying in the hotel where Steinbrenner lives.
“My wife and I went down to the lobby and all of a sudden a guy came in and he looked familiar,” Sean Sr. said of his first encounter with Steinbrenner. “I looked down at his hand and saw the (World Series) rings and knew it was him. I went over and introduced my son and daughter and he immediately was taken by them.”
He said his family's conversation with Steinbrenner was “just like talking with one of your relatives.”
“It was cool,” Sydney said. “He was really nice.”
The next morning, the day of the Yankees' opener against the Kansas City Royals, Steinbrenner was once again in the hotel lobby. When he saw the Lattimores get off the elevator, Steinbrenner signaled for Sydney and Sean Jr. to come over to him. That's when he offered up his own personal seats.
The Auburn family quickly accepted the exclusive tickets.
“Mr. Steinbrenner asked the kids if they were going to the baseball game,” Sean Sr. said. “They said they didn't have tickets so he reached in his blazer and pulled out four tickets. He turned to them and said, ‘You'll love these seats, they're my seats.'”
“He was so good with the kids,” Beth said. “You would just think he was a regular guy. I don't think Sean and Sydney grasped who he was. Some day, when they're 20, they'll realize what actually happened that day.”
Steinbrenner's tickets - Row A, Seats 1, 2, 3 and 4 - are front row, third base side, directly next to the opposing teams dugout. Sydney and Sean Jr. got to see their favorite players up close and even walked away with two foul balls - one from Derek Jeter and another from Hideki Matsui.
“That was my favorite part - getting the foul balls,” Sean Jr. said. “And the good part about it, it was my dad's birthday and that was really good.”
The game was a first for the Lattimore family and both Sean Sr. and Beth made sure their children walked away with plenty of Yankee merchandise.
“We bought T-shirts, flags and baseballs and a baseball cap,” Sydney said. “And we have our tickets.”
Sydney and Sean Jr. may not recognize the magnitude of the occasion, but they won't forget their first visit to Yankee Stadium.
“When you go to the stadium, you can't walk away without being in awe,” Beth said. “Sean hasn't taken off his new (Yankee) hat since that day. They're always wearing their Jeter T-shirts now.”
When the family arrived back at the hotel after the game, there again was ever-giving Steinbrenner.
“We went back after the game to get our luggage and he came right over to the kids,” Sean Sr. said. “He was chuckling with them. He asked them, ‘Were the seats good enough?' You never see that side of him but we've shared the stories with a bunch of people and different people have come up with some really special stories of Steinbrenner. He's got a real big heart and personal side that people seldom get to see.”
Staff writer Ryan Day can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 258 or at ryan.day@lee.net