COMMENTS: George Steinbrenner has not changed. He wanted to trade Ron Guidry soon after Guidry joined the team. Gabe Paul threatened to leave if Guidry were traded, and Steinbrenner backed down. Few fans know that even Thurman Munson was not immune from George's impetuosity. This was almost thirty years ago.
Gabe Paul wanted to trade for Dave Winfield but refused to send the Padres the players they wanted. In December, 1980, Steinbrenner signed Winfield as a free agent, giving the outfielder who batted .045 with one single in 22 at bats in the 1981 World Series a $16 million contract.
Much to George's chagrin, he misinterpreted Winfield's contract, which had a cost of living escalator clause. The contract would cost George $23 million, not $16 million. After Winfield's horrible World Series performance, Steinbrenner facetiously referred to Winfield as "Mr. May," knowing full well that would bring Reggie's "Mr. October" to fan's minds.
Throughout the 1980s, George Steinbrenner's leadership produced nothing. After winning the pennant and losing the World Series in the strike shortened 1981 season, the Yankees didn't win another World Series until 1996 and it was with a team that Steinbrenner was forced NOT to build.
On July 30, 1990, Commissioner Fay Vincent, not exactly an Alan Selig type commissioner, ruled that George Steinbrenner must resign as the Yankees' general partner and be banned from the club's day to day operations for life. Steinbrenner had given gambler Howie Spira $40,000 to obtain damaging information about Dave "Mr. May" Winfield.
George Steinbrenner's lifetime suspension would be lifetime if he were a newt, a toad, or an ant. On July 24, 1992, Vincent announced that Steinbrenner could return in March, 1993, which he did, but the significance of his absence was that it gave Gene Michael and others the opportunity to build the team without Steinbrenner's interference. The result was the last Yankees' dynasty, which won the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Thank you, Fay Vincent.
References:
Anderson, Dave. (1978). Gabe Paul speaks; No munson deal." The New York Times, March 5, 1978, p. S5.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/winf...
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