baseball twice, for illegal contributions made to richard nixon's 1972 campaign fund and in 1990 for paying a gambler to collect information on dave winfield. under steinbrenner, the payroll reached record numbers, the highest in major league baseball history. in the 1970s, no other owner had as much success with the free agent player market as he did. the strategy of acquiring big names didn't always produce a title. overall with steinbrenner in the owner's box, he won six world championships. >> the yankees are champions of baseball! >> reporter: steinbrenner enjoyed the limelight, starring in commercials often spoofing himself. >> you are the starting short stop, how can you spend two nights dances, two nights eating out and three nights carousing with your friends? >> reporter: and lampooned on