Yankee Executive Sues Vincent

A New York Yankee executive sued Fay Vincent in federal court Tuesday, accusing the commissioner of trying to run him and George Steinbrenner out of baseball.

Leonard L. Kleinman, executive vice president and chief operating executive of the Yankees, made the allegation in a $22-million suit against Vincent and John M. Dowd, the commissioner’s special counsel who directed an investigation of Steinbrenner’s dealings with gambler Howard Spira.

Kleinman accused Vincent of framing him and Steinbrenner on charges they acted against the best interests of baseball and of covering up ex-Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield’s involvement with Spira.

The suit in Manhattan’s federal court seeks to stop Vincent from holding a hearing Thursday to determine possible disciplinary action against Kleinman. U.S. District Judge Leonard B. Sand will hear arguments today on Kleinman’s request for a temporary restraining order to block Vincent’s hearing.