At his farewell news conference, George Steinbrenner wanted everyone to know he was a winner.
"I guess I'll have to stand on the record," Steinbrenner said. "We had 14 winning seasons, three losing, two World Series champions."Steinbrenner signed his resignation letter Monday, ending his 17 1/2-year reign as ruler of the New York Yankees.
The final hour was spent in a dank, hot auxilary clubhouse crowded by reporters and Yankee front office officials.
"It's not the way I wanted to go out," Steinbrenner said before the news conference. "But I have an agreement with the commissioner."
Before leaving, Steinbrenner made one final decision. He brought back long-time ally Gene Michael for another stint as general manager.
"Gene has been an organization man for many years," Steinbrenner said. "He has been a scout, a coach, a minor league and major league manager and was instrumental in helping the Yankees to the 1981 division championship."
A last-ditch effort by two limited partners to keep the Boss in charge failed when a federal judge in Cleveland turned down a request for a temporary restraining order.
"Deputy commissioner Steve Greenberg has been assured by Mr. Steinbrenner's lawyers that the resignation will be on his desk the first thing Tuesday morning," said Rich Levin, a spokesman for commissioner Fay Vincent.
The legal manuevering, however, may not be over.
An attorney for the two limited partners said he wanted to appeal U.S. District Judge Alice M. Batchelder's decision to the 6th U.S. Circuit of Appeals in Cincinnati. But Patrick McCartan, one of Vincent's attorneys, said a judge's decision on a temporary restraining order cannot be appealed.
Vincent stripped Steinbrenner of his powers as general partner on July 30 for actions against the best interest of baseball. Steinbrenner can still make decisions regarding certain financial matters, however.
"I've always said 10 years is maybe enough for a corporate chief executive," Steinbrenner said. "Perhaps it's time for a change."
Under the agreement, Steinbrenner had to resign as the Yankees' general partner, although he can remain as the team's principal owner.
"We obviously are pleased and gratified that the decision of the court in Cleveland is consistent with our position," Vincent said in a statement.
Batchelder's ruling cleared the way for Steinbrenner's resignation, and he said he would go.
"I've gotten all of my work done," Steinbrenner said shortly before leaving the Stadium at 7:20 p.m.
Steinbrenner made sure of that earlier in the day, changing general managers for the 14th time and giving the job to Michael for the second time. Michael, also a two-time manager of the Yankees, was GM in 1980.
It was Steinbrenner's second major move in his final 36 hours. On Sunday, he extended the contract of manager Stump Merrill through the 1992 season.
Steinbrenner left his final imprint on the Yankees by rewarding two of his most loyal employees - Merrill, the dedicated minor-league man and Michael, who started as a shortstop and worked his way up.
Michael began this season as a scout, became the "eye-in-the-sky" and was working as an advance scout when he was appointed general manager.
Michael replaced Pete Peterson, who will remain with the team as a special adviser to the general manager. Vice president George Bradley will also stay and serve as the head of minor-league operations.
"I think we'll work fine together," Michael said. "I'm going to handle the major league part of it. I couldn't be happier. I've been with this organization for 21 years."
Michael, a former player and coach for the Yankees, got a three-year contract.
Merrill took over the team on June 6 when Bucky Dent was fired with an 18-31 record, and the Yankees have gone 32-39 since then.
Steinbrenner switched managers 18 times during his tenure. His front office, coaches and players seemed to change equally as often.