Former Yankee Jay Howell recounted an encounter he had with George Steinbrenner back in 1983 for Murray Chass and the New York Times.

A Close Encounter Stirred a Pitcher's Mind:

As Steinbrenner kept going, Howell remembered a piece of advice offered by two veteran teammates, Rich Gossage and Ron Guidry, that a player must hold his ground with Steinbrenner.

So, Howell said, he stood up and said: "George, I may be 1 and 4, but I go out there and do my best. You've never heard me blame anybody else."

At that point, Howell related, "He leaps across the desk, clasps me around my back and says: 'Thatta boy. You're going to be the next Allie Reynolds.' "

Via Pro Sports Daily.