For 37 years, until his death at the age of 80, he was the major owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB), and he was also active in the Great Lakes shipping sector. The Yankees won seven World Series and 11 pennants during their longest stay in team history. In addition to his ownership role with the Yankees, he held minority interests in several other MLB teams. Born on July 19, 1923, in New York City, George Herbert "George" Steinbrenner III was one of five children of German immigrant parents who worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He attended Public School No. 18, then was graduated from New York University School of Law. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he established himself as a real estate lawyer in New York City. In 1961, he became involved in baseball when he purchased a minor league club, the Tampa Bay Indians, now known as the Tampa Bay Rays. Steinbrenner is best known as the principal force behind the construction of Yankee Stadium and the acquisition of multiple World Series rings. He opened up shop for the Yankees in 1972 after they had been relegated to the New York Mets' Class A farm team, the Tidewater Tides. He immediately set about trying to upgrade the team's aging stadium and bring prestige back to the franchise. His efforts paid off when the Yankees won their first World Series title in 1977.