Everyone knows that the Yankees won seven championships in George Steinbrenner’s tenure as owner. Besides the rings, Steinbrenner’s legacy can best be summarized with his nickname, “The Boss.” He would spend the money to bring in players he thought would make the team a winner. Conversely, if those players failed to perform, he’d send them out of town in a heartbeat. With one such player, however, this was not the case.
Ahead of the 1981 season, Steinbrenner signed Padres outfielder Dave Winfield to a 10-year, $23 million deal. The contract made Winfield, now a Hall-of-Famer, the highest paid player in the league.