Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 31, 1990 TAG: 9007310251
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Vincent forced Steinbrenner to give up control of the team for paying a gambler to dig up dirt on former Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield. The owners had expressed their support for Steinbrenner before Monday's daylong meeting with Vincent.
Afterward, the owners backed the commissioner's action.
"I do think it is imperative that any commissioner has the authority to make decisions such as Mr. Vincent's in the Steinbrenner case to uphold the integrity and image of our great game," Philadelphia Phillies president Bill Giles said. "I applaud Mr. Vincent for the strength, intellect and integrity he has shown since becoming commissioner."
"There was never any doubt in my mind that Commissioner Vincent would give Mr. Steinbrenner a fair hearing and I support the commissioner's decision," said Peter O'Malley, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The commissioner's ability to sanction those acting against the best interests of baseball is critical to maintain the integrity of the game."
Baltimore Orioles President Larry Lucchino concurred.
"We have complete confidence in the commissioner's judgment and action in this matter," Lucchino said.
The lone voice of dissent in the baseball community came from former Yankees President Gabe Paul, who took over operation of the team when Steinbrenner was suspended by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn in 1974 for making illegal campaign contributions. Paul said he was "in shock."
"I think the commissioner gave in to pressure, pressure of the media," Paul said.
Winfield called for a new day for Yankees fans.
"So much had been said about me, so many battles and so much turmoil . . . Yankee fans deserve to have a new chapter opened. I think they'll close the chapter on this."
Agent Tom Reich said Steinbrenner was not the villain many portrayed him to be.
"I feel very badly for George because in spite of what the public perception is and has been, especially of late, I view George with a different perception," Reich said. "He has never failed to keep his word to me.
"As to fairness of the hearing, from what I can observe, nobody could ever suggest to me that Fay Vincent wasn't fair and equitable. This is a very, very sad day. First [Pete] Rose, and then Steinbrenner.
Yankees general manager Pete Peterson had difficulty comprehending the severity of the penalty.
"I'm absolutely shocked . . . and all I can tell you is I feel very sad at this moment," he said. "The man has his faults, but he has done a lot of good things. He's done a lot for baseball and especially for baseball in New York for the Yankees. He was the type of competitor that this town could really appreciate."
When fans at Yankee Stadium heard about the ruling, they did something they've rarely done all season. They cheered.
The 24,037 fans at Monday's game against Detroit stood for a 90-second ovation to welcome the news.
Inside the Yankees' dugout, the mood was less celebratory.
"That's a terrible bunch of fans to react that way," Yankees pitcher Dave LaPoint said. "It's a shame that the fans who were out there erupted and made a joke out of it. It upset a lot of us. People were actually mean about the situation and, I guess, venting their own frustrations."
"The fans may have been cheering, but I wasn't," agreed Dave Righetti, who has pitched for New York through much of the controversy of the Steinbrenner era. Righetti, who has been with the team since 1979, has the longest tenure of any current Yankees player.
"It's sad. He really loved the idea of owning the Yankees, and now it's been taken away from him. It'll certainly be different not having him around here," he said.
Although Steinbrenner was forced to give up control of the Yankees, those at the game were mostly concerned with the best interests of their team.
"The guy got exactly what he deserved," said Trevor Bickford of Westbury, N.Y. "That's what should happen to any owner that constantly makes decisions to hurt the club. He traded away my favorite player, Dave Winfield, and changed managers it seemed like every month."
Steinbrenner made 18 managerial changes in 17 years.
At least one fan was willing to stand up for the erstwhile Yankees owner.
"I don't feel this is right," John Rizzi of Rockland, N.Y, said. "He upset a lot of people with his personality, and he even got on my nerves a lot. But he brought the Yankees back to this town.
"We were dead for 10 years and he made us a winner again. Things haven't gone well for a few years now, but I don't think it's his fault. At least he wanted to have a winner here.
"The next owner might not care at all or even take this club to [New] Jersey."
by CNB