''Mr. George Steinbrenner's intemperate blast is completely unacceptable” - When Lee MacPhail called out the Yankees owner for criticizing umpires
MLB owners, such as the late George Steinbrenner, then owner of the New York Yankees, are often deeply involved with their teams, which means they get frustrated with the same things that fans, players and coaches do. In many instances, that is the umpiring of their team. In 1983, Steinbrenner publicly aired his frustration.
After Dave Winfield was ejected for his role in a brawl during a game with the Oakland Athletics, Steinbrenner issued a statement criticizing the umpires. In response, Lee MacPhail, the president of the American League at the time, said in response via the New York Times:
''Mr. Steinbrenner's intemperate blast is completely unacceptable and will result in disciplinary action against him. What that action will be will be determined after a more careful evaluation of all the facts.''
Steinbrenner hit back with another statement, saying that everything he had said was based on what he believed to be the facts (per The New York Times):
''This is still a free country, and we are all free to express our opinion as far as I know unless Lee MacPhail has authored a new Constitution and Bill of Rights for the U.S.''
The New York Yankees owner had already been fined $50,000 for his remarks earlier that season.
Dave Winfield talked about what led to George Steinbrenner's comments
George Steinbrenner's feud with Lee MacPhail began after Dave Winfield was ejected from a game. The incident started when Athletics starter Mike Norris threw a fastball at Winfield, which he took offense to.
Winfield warned the opposing team but then said via the New York Times:
''I just warned him. I said, 'Hey, look out.' Then the catcher started chawing at me and put his hands on me and I choked him to the ground. He's lucky he got away like he did. He put his hands on me and I have to protect myself.''
Only Wingield was ejected from the game, which was why Steinbrenner was so upset. He believes that Norris throwing at Winfield instigated the whole thing and that he should have been tossed. The Yankees played the game under protest but eventually won. A three-run home run in the seventh against Norris proved decisive in a 4-2 win.