Kevin Costner Recalls Tense Feud with Yankees Icon During Classic Film Shoot
Kevin Costner Reveals Tense Exchange with Yankees Legend That Nearly Halted ‘For Love of the Game’
Hollywood icon Kevin Costner recently opened up about a heated dispute with former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner—an incident that almost derailed the production of his 1999 film For Love of the Game.
During a panel discussion at Fanatics Fest 2025 titled Sports Films Hall of Fame, hosted by former NFL star Michael Strahan, Costner recounted how Steinbrenner abruptly pulled permission to shoot at Yankee Stadium. The reason? The Yankees were scripted to lose in the movie’s ending—a result Steinbrenner strongly opposed.
“Now I’m thinking, I’m dead unless I say something,” Costner recalled. He described how he had to “tap dance” around the issue to salvage the filming location, calling the situation “f—– up.” Eventually, he managed to persuade Steinbrenner by explaining the loss portrayed in the film was ultimately insignificant. “I said, ‘It’s a meaningless game, George. And I’m going to treat the Yankees with the respect that you want to treat them with.’”
Steinbrenner relented, and Costner was allowed to shoot inside the stadium. The film went forward—and in a twist of fate, the real Yankees went on to win the 1999 World Series. Costner was even honored with a special executive championship ring.
“George was capable of blowing up, but he was also capable of the biggest gestures you could imagine,” Costner added.
The wide-ranging conversation also touched on how Costner applies lessons from sports to his career in film. He spoke about fostering teamwork with actors and crew, saying, “I have had actors and actresses try to help me and play for me, and that’s the way I am with my direction: ‘I want to win for my coach.’ Those are the kind of actors I love to direct.”
He even shared that he uses a chalkboard during shoots, much like a football coach mapping out plays. “There’s a lot on the line in sports and in the movies,” he said. “So let’s get down to the chalkboard, and let’s not make a mistake.”
His leadership philosophy extends to being protective of his cast. “My promise is I’m not going to let them look bad,” he explained. “Their promise is to get to the set on time and out of that makeup chair—no f—— around, no pouting.”
Costner also reflected on his work with screen legend Burt Lancaster in Field of Dreams (1989), recalling how Lancaster initially struggled during a scene and asked Costner to leave the set out of embarrassment. “I said, ‘I’m not going anywhere. You’re doing this perfectly.’ And he hung in there, and he got it right, because he’s a professional.”
“You manage to win on your worst day,” Costner concluded. “And Burt that night, while he was humiliated, found it in himself to get those lines right that now live forever in that movie.”
