Loud. Brash. Confident. Successful. That is the George Steinbrenner we have learned to love and loathe, as his 35-year reign of ownership of the Yankees comes to an end as he passes on control to his son, Hal - who was four when his dad bought the team. Click through to see more of his legacy.

Ed Reinke, AP

Steinbrenner (second from left) came into pro sports in 1960 when he bought the Cleveland Pipers. His club was set to join the NBA in 1962 before the deal fell apart.

AP

"The Boss" returned to the sports scene in a big way when his group bought the Yankees in 1973. The Bronx Bombers quickly returned to glory with a pair of World Series titles in his first six years in charge.

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The Yankees fought hard on and off the field in the '70s. But they also won a lot, including back-to-back World Series triumphs over the Dodgers in 1977-78.

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Steinbrenner quickly developed a reputation as a difficult owner to work for. He clashed repeatedly with skipper Billy Martin, whom he fired five times.

Marty Lederhandler, AP

Steinbrenner also was a lightning rod for controversy away from the field. He was suspended in 1974 after being indicted for making illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign.

W. Ashbolt, AP

Steinbrenner was banished a second time in 1990 for paying a gambler for dirt on Dave Winfield. The owner was reinstated in '93 and the Yankees soon began to prosper again.

Albert Dickson, The Sporting News / ZUMA Press

Steinbrenner has always coveted big-name star players for his team. One of his first, and biggest, coups was the signing of Reggie Jackson before the '77 season. "Mr. October" led New York to two titles.

Marty Lenderhandler, AP

The Yankees had several good teams in the '80s but lost their championship touch. Steinbrenner's ceaseless meddling and strange decisions (like bringing Martin back yet again in '83) did not help.

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Even Yankee icon Yogi Berra was no match for the mercurial Boss, who canned the Hall of Famer as manager just 16 games into the '85 season, causing a falling-out that would take 15 years to fix.

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1. Mark Teixeira, 1B | Age: 28 | Bats: Switch | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: .308 AVG, 33 HR, 121 RBI, .410 OBP, .632 SLG, 2 SB
The Skinny: Teixeira is a wonderful player with no holes in his game. He has a discerning eye and a powerful stroke from both sides of the plate. On top of it all, he's a terrific defender, and he's just entering his prime.

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2. CC Sabathia, SP | Age: 28 | Throws: Left | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: 17-10 W-L, 2.70 ERA, 253 IP, 251 SO, 59 BB
The Skinny: The 2007 AL Cy Young winner is a true rarity -- a power left-hander. He gets his fastball into the mid-90s and is a bona fide horse at the top of the rotation, having never thrown fewer than 180 innings in a year.

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3. Manny Ramirez, LF | Age: 36 | Bats: Right | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: .332 AVG, 37 HR, 121 RBI, .430 OBP, .601 SLG, 3 SB
The Skinny: Ramirez is merely one of the best hitters ever, even as he closes in on age 40. He has little defensive value, and, as the Red Sox know too well, doesn't always give 100 percent, but his bat makes up for it.

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4. Derek Lowe, SP | Age: 35 | Throws: Right | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: 14-11 W-L, 3.24 ERA, 211 IP, 147 SO, 45 BB
The Skinny: Lowe is a step down from Sabathia -- a legitmate No. 2 starter rather than an ace. He uses his signature sinker to generate ground balls and eat innings like few other pitchers on the market.

Gene J. Puskar, Pool / AP

5. A.J. Burnett, SP | Age: 31 | Throws: Right | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: 18-10 W-L, 4.07 ERA, 221 1/3 IP, 231 SO, 86 BB
The Skinny: Burnett has the best pure stuff of any pitcher available, with a mid-90s fastball and a knee-buckling curve. Only durability concerns -- he's often struggled to stay healthy -- keep him from ranking higher.

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6. Rafael Furcal, SS | Age: 31 | Bats: Switch | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: .357 AVG, 5 HR, 16 RBI, .439 OBP, .573 SLG, 8 SB
The Skinny: Furcal is an elite middle infielder and a legitimate table-setter at the top of the lineup. He has above-average plate discipline and pop for his position and is an excellent defender, with a good throwing arm.

Mark J. Terrill, AP

7. Adam Dunn, LF | Age: 29 | Bats: Left | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: .236 AVG, 40 HR, 100 RBI, .386 OBP, .513 SLG, 2 SB
The Skinny: It's all too easy to focus on what Dunn can't do. No, he'll never hit for average, but it's hard to find such consistency from a power hitter. He's hit 40 home runs in each of the last four seasons.

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8. Milton Bradley, DH | Age: 30 | Bats: Switch | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: .321 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI, .436 OBP, .563 SLG, 5 SB
The Skinny: Once known only as a malcontent, Bradley stayed out of trouble in Texas this year and blossomed as a hitter. He's a bit on the fragile side, and as such will probably be limited to DHing for a team with depth.

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9. Oliver Perez, SP | Age: 27 | Throws: Left | Status: Free agent
2008 Statistics: 10-7 W-L, 4.22 ERA, 194 IP, 180 SO, 105 BB
The Skinny: Effectively wild might be the best way to describe Perez, who has excellent stuff, but often struggles to harness it. The southpaw is a mid-rotation starter capable of stretches of dominance when his control is on.

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10. Ryan Dempster, SP | Age: 31 | Throws: Right | Status: Signed with Cubs
2008 Statistics: 17-6 W-L, 2.96 ERA, 206 2/3 IP, 187 SO, 76 BB
The Skinny: Dempster transitioned back to starting better than anyone could have imagined in 2008. He's a cheaper alternative to Burnett, but, with solid peripheral numbers, is a viable No. 2 or No. 3 on a contender.

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AL MVP: Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
Highlights: Pedroia led the American League in runs (118), hits (213) and doubles (54) and fell percentage points short of the batting title. He also won the Gold Glove at second base.

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NL MVP: Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
Highlights: Pujols had arguably the greatest season of his illustrious career in 2008. The St. Louis superstar hit .357 and had a .462 on-base percentage in addition to the usual gaudy home run and RBI totals.

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AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, SP, Indians
Highlights: After a humiliating demotion to the minors in 2007, Lee was nearly flawless this season, posting a 22-3 record and an AL-best 2.54 ERA.

Ed Zurga, AP

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants
Highlights: Sporting a funky delivery and a wiry 5-foot-11 frame, Lincecum dominated NL hitters in 2008. The Giants right-hander went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and recorded 265 strikeouts in 227 innings.

Ross D. Franklin, AP

AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, Rays
Highlights: Maddon took the Rays, perennial cellar-dwellers that had never finished higher than fourth in the AL East, to the postseason for the first time, falling to the Phillies in the World Series.

Gene J. Puskar, AP

NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella, Cubs
Highlights: Piniella guided the Cubs to best record in the National League and the first back-to-back playoff appearances for the franchise since 1907-08.

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AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
Highlights: Longoria finished second on the Rays in home runs and RBI despite missing more than a month of action due to a broken wrist. He led Tampa Bay to its first postseason appearance in franchise history and set a rookie record with six homers in the playoffs.

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NL Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto, C, Cubs
Highlights: Soto put together a monster offensive season for a backstop, belting 23 homers, 60 extra-base hits and driving in 86 runs for the NL Central champs. He also earned praise for his handling of the Chicago pitching staff and his game-calling abilities.

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