Howard Spira
| |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959 |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation(s) | Gangster gambler journalist |
| Known for | Extorting 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]
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]
During the 1980s, Spira was an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation against the Five Families.[2]
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]
As of 2011, Spira lived with his parents in The Bronx.[2]
