George Steinbrenner
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George Steinbrenner was the principal owner and managing partner of the New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series titles and 11 pennants. His outspokenness and role in driving up player salaries made him one of the sport's most controversial figures. The "convicted" part of Billy Martin's famous 1978 "liar and convicted" comment referred to Steinbrenner's connection to Richard Nixon; in 1974, Steinbrenner pleaded guilty to making illegal contributions to Nixon's re-election campaign, and to a felony charge of obstruction of justice.He was personally fined $15,000 and his company was assessed an additional $20,000. On November 27 of that year, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended him for two years, but later commuted it to fifteen months. After the 1980 season, Steinbrenner made headlines by signing Dave Winfield to a 10-year, $23 million contract, making Winfield baseball's highest-paid player. In 1985, Steinbrenner derided Winfield's poor performance in a key September series against the Toronto Blue Jays. On July 30, 1990, Steinbrenner was banned permanently from day-to-day management of the Yankees by MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent for paying a gambler named Howie Spira $40,000 to dig up "dirt" on Winfield. Winfield had sued the Yankees for failing to contribute $300,000 to his foundation, a guaranteed stipulation in his contract
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New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in 1978 shares a laugh with Billy Martin as they answer questions at a news conference after the Old Timers Day game at Yankee Stadium. The two had a tempestuous relationship, with Mr. Steinbrenner hiring and firing Mr. Martin five times as manager of the American League's most celebrated team. (Associated Press)
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New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, with pitcher Andy Pettitte behind him, arrives for a news conference Tuesday at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. The All-Star Game there coincidently was scheduled on the same day that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died. He rebuilt the Yankees into a sports empire with a mix of bluster and big money that polarized fans all across America but in the end won their respect. (Associated Press)
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BUBBLY BALL: New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner revels in a champagne shower after a World Series win in 1998. He bought the team in 1973 for $10 million. (Associated Press)
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** FILE ** New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (right) slaps hands with his son Hal before a pregame ceremony in 2008 renaming Legends Field in Tampa, Fla., as George M. Steinbrenner Field. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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In a Monday, Aug. 21, 1990, photo, George Steinbrenner gestures during a news conference after resigning as general manager of the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York. A person close to Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)
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This June 29, 1978, file photo shows New York Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner laughing as Billy Martin answers reporters' questions at a news conference after the Old Timers' Day game at Yankee Stadium in New York. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Harris, File)
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This Oct. 21, 1981, file photo shows New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner working at his desk at Yankee Stadium in New York before Game 2 of the World Series. On the wall is an autographed photo of Cary Grant. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/File)
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This Feb. 28, 1998, file photo shows New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner flanked by Manager Billy Martin (left) and Vice President and General Manager Lou Piniella at spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Bill Cooke)
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This Feb. 17, 2004, file photo shows New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner gesturing outside the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
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This March 6, 2010, file photo shows New York Yankees Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson (left) sitting with Yankees principal owner and Chairman George Steinbrenner during a Yankees spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. George Steinbrenner, who rebuilt the Yankees into a sports empire with a mix of bluster and big bucks that polarized fans all across America, died Tuesday, July 13, 2010. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday July 4. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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In this Oct. 29, 1999, file photo, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (rear) greets manager Joe Torre (left) and team owner George Steinbrenner at the start of the rally at City Hall honoring the 1999 World Series-winning New York Yankees in New York. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
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This Feb. 27, 1999, file photo shows New York Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner talking to reporters in the dugout at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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In this March 27, 2008, file photo, Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal (left), New York Yankees senior vice president for new stadium public affairs, holds onto her father, Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner (center), along with his wife, Joan, during a pregame ceremony renaming Legends Field as George M. Steinbrenner Field at a spring training baseball game in Tampa, Fla. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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In an April 25, 1974, photo, George Steinbrenner talks with members of the press at Yankee Stadium in New York. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo, File)
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In a Thursday, March 27, 2008, photo, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (right) slaps hands with his son Hal before a pregame ceremony renaming Legends Field in Tampa, Fla., as George M. Steinbrenner Field. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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This May 16, 2010, file photo shows George Steinbrenner, along with his wife, Joan (left), at the dedication of George M. Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Fla. A person close to George Steinbrenner says the Yankees owner died Tuesday morning, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Tampa Tribune, Chris Urso, File)
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** FILE ** George Steinbrenner, along with his wife, Joan (left), attends the dedication of George M. Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Fla., on May 16, 2010. (AP Photo/The Tampa Tribune, Chris Urso, File)
