Steinbrenner helped MLB in many ways

George Steinbrenner’s impact on baseball went far beyond his New York Yankees.

He showed all teams that spending lavishly on players – when done intelligently – was a way to produce winners, and even some of his rivals adopted that strategy. And he revolutionized the game with his decisions to start a television network and a catering company, and a huge equipment supply contract.

Steinbrenner headed a group that bought the Yankees in January 1973 for $8.7 million net and turned it into a large business valued at $1.6 billion by Forbes.

Since his health began to decline after the 2003 season, power shifted to Steinbrenner’s four children and the team’s management.

Hal Steinbrenner, the younger son, became managing general partner in November 2008. Hal runs the business for himself, older brother Hank and sisters Jessica and Jennifer.

For many, it is hard to imagine the pinstripes without Steinbrenner overseeing them with his unique mix of demands for excellence and unrestrained bluster.

Braves acquire SS Gonzalez from Jays

The N.L. East-leading Atlanta Braves, looking to bolster their lineup for the second half of the season, acquired Alex Gonzalez in a swap of shortstops that sent Yunel Escobar to Toronto.

The Braves also traded left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes to the Blue Jays in the five-player deal while also adding left-handed minor league pitcher Tim Collins and minor league shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.

The 33-year-old Gonzalez is hitting .259 with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs. He is tied for fifth in the American League with 43 extra-base hits.

Escobar hit .299 with career-best totals of 14 homers and 76 RBIs last season. He has struggled this year, hitting only .238 with no homers and 19 RBIs.

All-Star game earns record-low TV rating

Major League Baseball’s All-Star game has earned its lowest television rating.

The National League’s 3-1 victory Tuesday night on Fox earned a 7.5 fast national rating and 13 share. That’s down 16 percent from the 8.9/15 for last season’s game, a 4-3 win by the American League.

The previous low was an 8.1/14 in 2005.

Peavy undergoes successful surgery

White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy underwent successful surgery to repair a detached latissimus dorsi muscle in his right shoulder.

Peavy, who will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, was hurt delivering a pitch on July 6 against the Angels. The 29-year-old expects to be ready for spring training.

He said he would rejoin the White Sox after a recovery period and do his rehab while staying with the team. He was acquired at the trade deadline a year ago from the Padres.

I.L. takes Triple-A All-Star game 2-1

Elliot Johnson singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the International League a 2-1 win over the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star game at Coca-Cola Park.

The two teams combined for nine hits. The International League had only four hits, but three came in a two-run rally in the sixth against Round Rock’s Josh Banks.