Howard Spira

Howard Spira
Born1959
The Bronx
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Gangster
gambler
journalist
Known forExtorting George Steinbrenner
Informing on the Five Families of the American Mafia

Howard Spira (born 1959) is an American gambler who was central to Fay Vincent's decision to ban George Steinbrenner from baseball during the 1990s.[1] In 1991 he was convicted of trying to extort $110,000 from Steinbrenner and spent over two years in prison.[1]

Early life and education

Howard Spira was born in 1959 in the Bronx to poor parents. Spira attended New York University, studying broadcast journalism,[2] but dropped out in 1980.[1][2]

FBI informant

During the 1980s, Spira was an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation against the Five Families.[2]

Steinbrenner and Winfield

In the late 1980s Spira, working as an unpaid publicist for Dave Winfield's foundation[3] was in debt and contacted Steinbrenner,[3][4] who was in a conflict with Winfield over payments to Winfield's charitable foundation.[1] Spira offered to provide proof Winfield was misusing charitable funds in exchange for Steinbrenner paying him $150,000, giving him a job, and providing him a room in a hotel owned by Joan Steinbrenner.[3] In January of 1990, Steinbrenner paid him $40,000.[2][3]

Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball for three years for paying Spira $40,000 to find dirt on Winfield.[1][5]

Spira was the subject of a 2016 film, The Rise and Fall of Howie Spira.[6]

Personal life

As of 2011, Spira lived with his parents in The Bronx.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mitchell, Debra (June 1998). "The Anti-Boss". New York Magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e O'Brien, Luke. "The Last Act Of The Notorious Howie Spira". Deadspin. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d O'Keefe, Michael (16 January 2010). "Howie Spira, the Bronx gambler who dug up dirt on Dave Winfield, is down on his luck". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. ^ Chass, Murray (March 25, 1990). "Steinbrenner-Spira: Tale of the Tape". New York Times. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. ^ Sanderson, Bill (July 14, 2010). "Spira still bitter over Steinbrenner-gate". New York Post. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  6. ^ "The Rise and Fall of Howie Spira". IMDb. Retrieved 17 December 2018.