Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 31, 1990 TAG: 9007310473
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent on Monday stripped Steinbrenner of control of the team for allegedly paying a gambler to dig up dirt on a ballplayer.
" . . . Mr. Steinbrenner agrees that he is to be treated as if he had been placed on the permanent ineligible list," Vincent said. "I hope this sad episode is now over."
Fans rose in a 90-second standing ovation when news spread to Yankee Stadium. The decision brought shouts of "No more George!"
"I will not comment on the decision," Steinbrenner said. "I'm very happy it was resolved. I'm very satisfied with the resolution, and that's all I'm going to say."
As one of the most controversial - some say hated - names in the game's history, Steinbrenner was famous for hiring and firing managers - five times in the case of Billy Martin. He changed managers 18 times and pitching coaches 31 times.
Steinbrenner, 60, who headed a group that purchased the Yankees from CBS Inc. in 1973, can retain partial ownership but was given six months to reduce his stake to below 50 percent from 55 percent. His 31-year-old son, Hank, will become the new general partner, said Steinbrenner's lawyer, Stephen Kaufman.
Steinbrenner will be allowed to consult on major business decisions but cannot participate in player deals. And he must get Vincent's permission, in writing, to attend major league games as anything other than a fan. He cannot, for example, sit in the owner's box or visit the clubhouse.
Steinbrenner accepted the terms of his punishment and agreednot to contest the decision in court, as he had threatened to do, Vincent said.
"It's sad," said Yankee pitcher Dave Righetti. "He really loved the idea of owning the Yankees, and now it's been taken away from him."
"The guy got exactly what he deserved," a Yankee fan, Trevor Bickford of Westbury, N.Y., said after word reached Yankee Stadium. "That's what should happen to any owner that constantly makes decisions to hurt the club."
Vincent punished Steinbrenner for starting a relationship with gambler Howard Spira and paying Spira $40,000 in January. Vincent said Steinbrenner's actions violated the "best-interests-of-baseball" clause that gives the commissioner practically unlimited powers to protect the integrity of the game.
Last August, Pete Rose was banished from the game for betting on baseball.
Steinbrenner's downfall stemmed from a feud with Yankee Dave Winfield, whom he signed in 1980. Steinbrenner turned on his star outfielder after Winfield went 1-for-22 in the 1981 World Series loss to Los Angeles.
Winfield and Steinbrenner sued each other three times in the 1980s and Winfield finally was traded to the California Angels in May.
That deal came after Spira said he was paid by Steinbrenner to provide information to discredit the outfielder. Spira went public with the $40,000 payment in March and Vincent started the investigation.
"Mr. Steinbrenner has offered multiple and conflicting explanations of his decision to give $40,000 to Spira, ranging from charity to extortion," Vincent said.
"I am pursuaded that neither extreme was at work here. Rather, the payment was in consideration for Spira's help . . ."
Steinbrenner tried to cover up the $40,000 because "he knew the payment, if exposed, would look bad, and he knew, or at least should have known, that if the payment were exposed, it would bring disrepute to him and therefore to baseball," the commissioner said.
by CNB