Steinbrenner's Family Hoping For Hall Election

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — George Steinbrenner's family is rooting hard for the late New York Yankees owner to get elected to the Hall of Fame.

Steinbrenner, former manager Billy Martin and one-time players' union head Marvin Miller also are on the 12-man Veterans Committee ballot. Results will be announced Dec. 6 during the winter meetings.

"It would be a big deal ... it just would," Hank Steinbrenner, the Boss' oldest son and a Yankees co-chairman, told The Associated Press on Monday.

"There's very few owners in the history of baseball that changed baseball as much as he did. He did a lot, but the biggest thing of all was really the fact he brought back the Yankees and that's so critical to baseball," he said.

Steinbrenner owned the Yankees from 1973 until his death in July. The team won seven World Series championships, 11 AL pennants and 16 AL East titles during his reign.

Martin had five stints as Yankees manager under Steinbrenner, getting fired four times and resigning once.

"Whether they got along all the time or not, the bonds between the two, he always loved him," Hank Steinbrenner said. "If my dad was still alive, I think that would have been very cool, to be going in the same time as Billy if both got in."

Former players Vida Blue, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons and Rusty Staub also are on the ballot, with longtime executive Pat Gillick. The Hall announced the ballot last week.

To be elected, a candidate must appear on at least 75 percent of the 16 ballots. Anyone chosen will be inducted into the Hall during ceremonies in Cooperstown on July 24, along with any players elected in January by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.