Yankees Squelch Release of Anger

The news release carrying a Yankee logo appeared in the media workroom prior to Game 1 of the World Series. But only briefly.

A Yankee official removed it almost as soon as it hit.

It was headed: “Yankee Tradition . . . Yankee Pride???” From: “A soon to be FORMER YANKEE EMPLOYEE”

The release attacked Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and said “Yankee pride and tradition are only hollow words to Mr. Steinbrenner. . . . This should be a joyous time at Yankee Stadium but Mr. Steinbrenner sucks the pleasure out of it for everyone involved.”

It went on to say that Yankee employees of more than 20 years were not allowed to buy Series tickets and the “few who did . . . were placed in the upper deck and Mr. Steinbrenner waited until Friday night to release those tickets because he’s so scared that people would scalp them. Basically, [he] doesn’t trust his own people. . . . This is [his] Yankee Pride and Tradition.”

A Yankee official said Steinbrenner would have no comment.

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Management and union labor negotiators met for five hours Sunday, with the long-awaited completion of a deal that has been in place since early August still apparently hinging on the union’s desire to have acting commissioner Bud Selig participate in the final process, sources said.

The Milwaukee Brewers’ owner has said he is willing to do that but he arrived in New York too late Sunday to join the talks, which sources said he is likely to do today.