George Steinbrenner officially passed control of the New York Yankees to his son Hal on Thursday. "I realize it's a great responsibility," said Hal Steinbrenner, who turns 40 on Dec. 3. "My dad is, needless to say, a tough act to follow." Hal is responsible for financial operations of the club, and Hank oversees general manager Brian Cashman and the baseball operations. Major League Baseball said George Steinbrenner requested the change in control be made. "He's been slowing down the last couple years," Hal Steinbrenner said. "Really, for the last two years I have been intimately involved with all aspects and all departments of the company. It's what I've been doing day-to-day. My duties aren't really going to change and my workload isn't going to change much. So, I mean, it's as much a procedural thing within the family, I think, as anything at this point."