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] 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] 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.
[2][3] Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball for three years for paying Spira $40,000 to find dirt on Winfield.