Winfield Vindicated by Vincent’s Action : Investigation: Former Yankee says it is the ‘end of an era in New York.’ Also: ‘He’s been against my best interest for years.’

The forced resignation of New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner might have been the ultimate triumph for Dave Winfield, who considered Monday’s ruling by Commissioner Fay Vincent vindication after the aspersions Winfield’s former boss had cast upon him during their long and stormy relationship.

“It does a whole lot for anything anybody might have questioned about me,” Winfield said of the decree ordering Steinbrenner to relinquish day-to-day control of the Yankees. “I just know they did a thorough investigation to come up with the facts and thought he acted against the best interests of baseball. He had been against my best interests for years.”

Winfield said that Vincent’s ruling Monday “is the end of an era in New York” as well as the end of his ties to Steinbrenner and the Yankee organization. Winfield was questioned by special investigator John Dowd, but was not a focus of the investigation.

“I’m glad to get this out of the way,” Winfield said. “It’s really been a major distraction, although not as much as when I was there in New York. It’s unfortunate for baseball in New York. I always appreciated the way Yankee fans treated me for who I was and not what (Steinbrenner) said.”

Vincent’s investigation centered on Steinbrenner’s payment of $40,000 to gambler Howard Spira, an action Steinbrenner attributed at various times to fear that Spira might harm him or his family and to his desire to suppress information Spira had about Yankee employees. It was also alleged that Steinbrenner made the payment because Spira uncovered information damaging to Winfield and Winfield’s charitable foundation.

Spira has said he worked for the David M. Winfield Foundation, but Winfield said Monday that Spira was never a foundation employee.

Winfield had expected Vincent to issue his ruling later in the week, and so did not have with him at the Metrodome the statement he had been working on for several weeks. Appearing surprised by the timing of the announcement, he spoke quietly to reporters in the Angels’ clubhouse after their 7-3 loss to the Twins.

“I don’t really know what I expected,” the 38-year-old outfielder said when asked whether he thought Steinbrenner might have been more severely punished. “Probably justice was served. I don’t need to gloat or harp on it. . . . It’s pretty final.”

Winfield was traded to the Angels May 11, but the deal was not completed until five days later because Winfield claimed that his rights as a veteran player enabled him to veto any proposed trade. While Winfield mulled his future, Steinbrenner said he would welcome Winfield back as a regular player should he go to arbitration and remain a Yankee. Those statements were construed as tampering, resulting in Steinbrenner being fined $225,000 by Vincent.

Winfield chose not to take his case to arbitration, instead accepting a three-year, $9.1-million contract extension from the Angels.

Since his departure, Winfield has often expressed his satisfaction at being a former Yankee. That satisfaction increased Monday.

“I’m glad I’m with the Angels. I like being here,” he said. “I’m doing fine. But it’s been an unfortunate situation for Yankee fans. They’re a highly visible team with a tradition of winning, and they’ll be looking to restore the luster that’s been lost.”

Told that fans at Yankee Stadium Monday had greeted the announcement of Steinbrenner’s banishment with a standing ovation, Winfield nodded knowingly.

“It had been building, been building for years,” he said. “That’s just the culmination of their frustration.”

And his own.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” he said. “It’s final.”