Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg has apologized to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner for remarks he made about fans’ behavior at the Stadium.
“Earlier today, in the course of praising the extraordinary support and enthusiasm of Texas Rangers fans, I unfairly and inaccurately disparaged fans of the New York Yankees. Those remarks were inappropriate,” Greenberg said Monday in a statement. “Yankees fans are among the most passionate and supportive in all of baseball.
“I have spoken directly to Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine to apologize for my intemperate comments.
“I would like to express again how proud we are of our fans and how remarkably they have supported the Rangers throughout lean times and now during this magical season.”
Greenberg, a Rangers part-owner, ripped Yankees fans for their actions during this month’s ALCS during a radio program in Texas.
“I thought Yankee fans, frankly, were awful,” Greenberg said on ESPN Radio in Dallas. “They were either violent or apathetic, neither of which is good. So I thought Yankee fans were by far the worst of any I’ve seen in the postseason. I thought they were an embarrassment.”
Greenberg’s response came when he was asked about how the Rangers fans have been throughout the playoffs.
“I think our fans have been great. I think particularly in Game 3 of the World Series they just blew away anything I’ve seen in any venue during the postseason,” Greenberg, who led a group that purchased the Rangers in early August, said before ranting against the Yankees faithful.
The Commissioner’s Office contacted Greenberg and issued a warning not to repeat comments such as those critical of fans. The Rangers and Yankees are expected to compete for the services of free agent pitcher Cliff Lee this offseason.
Last week, Lee’s wife, Kristen, complained about taunting, cursing, spitting, and having beer thrown in her direction while sitting in the family section at the Stadium.
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” Kristen told USA Today. “When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
Cliff Lee said it would not affect his free-agency decision.