NEW YORK: Control of the New York Yankees was formally shifted to Hal Steinbrenner, son of famed former team boss George Steinbrenner, by MLB owners on Thursday, commissioner Bud Selig announced.

Owners approval of the move makes Hal the link between the club and league officials even though he serves as co-chairman of the team with older brother Hank, who controls baseball operations while Hal bosses business operations.

Their 78-year-old father, among the most famed US team owners, has gradually eased himself out of the day-to-day operations of the Yankees in recent years and his sons were installed into their current posts earlier this year.