Steinbrenner, Vincent Mum About Probe by Baseball

New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner finished answering nine hours of questions posed by baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent and his staff Friday and was given 10 days to submit any additional evidence he wants considered.

Vincent is investigating Steinbrenner’s relationship with former Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield and with New York gambler Howard Spira, who Thursday pleaded not guilty in a New York court of charges of trying to extort $150,000 from Steinbrenner.

Vincent also reportedly is taking a wider look at how Steinbrenner has run the team he bought in 1973.

Neither Steinbrenner nor Vincent would reveal what was discussed during the period over two days at a Manhattan law firm.

“His testimony was helpful to me in evaluating his situation and his cooperation was complete,” Vincent said during a sidewalk news conference. “I will try, depending on the state of the record in front of me on the 16th, to make a decision reasonably quickly.”

Vincent, who has authority to do anything “in the best interests of baseball” and the power to issue any penalty up to a lifetime ban, refused to discuss his opinions.

Howard R. Tyler Jr., a former prosecutor, deputy attorney general and federal judge, was retained by Vincent as special counsel. In addition, Vincent said he would discuss the case with investigator John M. Dowd and deputy commissioner Stephen Greenberg.

Steinbrenner was smiling as he got into the front seat of a station wagon. He said he didn’t know what to expect.

“You can’t really tell in these things,” he said.

Dowd, who led the Pete Rose inquiry last year, compiled a secret report on Steinbrenner that has been seen only by Vincent and the commissioner’s aides.

“The person who knows the facts on this case best is Mr. Steinbrenner,” Vincent said. “He’s testified for a day and a half, and his testimony is the essential testimony.” Thursday, Vincent ordered Steinbrenner to pay the Angels $200,000 and the major leagues $25,000, saying he tampered with Winfield after the Yankees traded him to the Angels May 11.