Steinbrenner Asks for Control

George Steinbrenner met with baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent on Tuesday and asked to reassume active control of the New York Yankees.

Steinbrenner, the team’s principal owner, has been barred from running the team since Aug. 20, 1990, under an agreement that followed an investigation of his dealings with Howard Spira, including a $40,000 payment to the gambler.

Vincent was prepared to suspend Steinbrenner for two years, but the owner instead signed an agreement that amounts to a lifetime ban from running the club.

Steinbrenner, accompanied by lawyer Arnold Burns, met with Vincent and deputy commissioner Stephen Greenberg. The commissioner had previously refused to meet with Steinbrenner because of three lawsuits, but the last of the suits was dropped May 8.

Neither Steinbrenner nor Vincent was immediately available for comment. Vincent issued a statement saying that no decision had been reached and that further discussion will takeplace.

Steinbrenner, who with his family controls 55% of the stock in the partnership that owns the team, cannot resume active involvement unless Vincent modifies the agreement reached on July 30, 1990.

The three lawsuits cost Steinbrenner about $3.5 million without any results.