EXCLUSIVE: The New York Yankees are back in the World Series and Donald Trump is hurtling towards the finish line of his third presidential campaign.
And somewhere, George Steinbrenner may have a vested interest in watching.
The Yankees’ late owner was known for his brash, unfiltered communication style and for easily firing employees, and served as a role model for the former president during Trump’s rise as a New York City businessman. President Trump observed Mr. Steinbrenner during Yankees games to observe his actions. People close to Trump said he and Steinbrenner were close friends.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey met both men in the 1980s, during the early days of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. And for Garvey, who is currently running for the California Senate as a Republican, Reagan was a gateway to the Republican Party.
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa’s annual Steak and Burger Benefit at the behest of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner on August 19, 1988 at the Downtown Hyatt in Tampa, Florida Donald Trump speaking. (Victor Junko/St. Petersburg Times/Getty Images)
Mr. Garvey, who has worked directly with Mr. Reagan and Mr. Trump, negotiated with Mr. Steinbrenner, and played against the Yankees in the World Series three times, believes Mr. Trump is far more similar to Mr. Steinbrenner than Mr. Reagan in terms of leadership. I believe that
“I’m more like Steinbrenner,” Garvey told Fox News Digital when asked who he has in common with President Trump as a leader.
Garvey said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that he first met Reagan when he was serving as governor of California in the 1970s, when he first forayed into politics from acting. Although Garvey was still playing for the Dodgers at the time, he went out of his way to volunteer at the Reagan rally. Mr. Garvey later hosted several state dinners during the 1980s during the Reagan administration.
“One day I said, ‘Mr. President, what are your core beliefs?’ He looked down and called me Stephen and said, ‘God, lower taxes and smaller government. ‘This is a chance to give people a chance to dream,’ and I thought, ‘That’s very interesting,'” Garvey recalled.
Steve Garvey calls for prevention of transgenderism in women’s sports
President Ronald Reagan (right) and former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger whisper during a meeting in Washington, D.C., 1983. (David Hume Kennerley/Getty Images)
Mr. Garvey met Mr. Trump under very different circumstances. After Garvey retired from baseball in 1987, he pushed for the purchase of his last team, the San Diego Padres. Mr. Garvey unsuccessfully tried to bring Mr. Trump on as an investment partner in 1989 to make the deal happen.
“We met a little bit and he had all his money in the East. I was interested, but not really interested at the time,” Garvey said.
Garvey also never signed Steinbrenner.
A 1982 New York Times article reported that Garvey and Steinbrenner met in late November of that year after his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers expired and he became a free agent. At the time, Garvey appeared in three World Series with the Yankees, helping Los Angeles defeat New York in their most recent encounter in 1981. By that point, Garvey had already been named to the All-Star team eight times and won the National League MVP award in 1974.
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“When you talked to him, you couldn’t help but be interested,” Steinbrenner said of Garvey at the time. “That’s the kind of guy he is.”
However, Steinbrenner’s offer was reportedly delayed compared to offers for other star players.
Still, Garvey’s representatives maintained that the Yankees’ owner wanted to sign the star first baseman.
Jerry Kapstein, the player’s agent, said, “George Steinbrenner definitely wants Steve Garvey to wear a Yankees uniform, and he wants Steve Garvey to wear a Yankees uniform.” I’m working hard to achieve that.”
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey at bat during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium during the 1981 season. (Malcolm Emmons/USA Today Sports)
Despite their failure to reach a deal with Trump and Steinbrenner in the 1980s, and despite their obvious similarities, Garvey and Trump are now just nine days away from the election. belong to the same team.
Garvey is in last place in the race against his Democratic opponent, Representative Adam Schiff. Mr. Garvey is trailing Mr. Schiff in many polls.
But data shows the state is leaning more Republican than it has been in decades. In August, the California Secretary of State released a report on the state’s voter registration trends since February, showing a surge in Republican registration in every state Senate, state Assembly, and House district in all 58 California counties. revealed.
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