Books and articles about Bart Giamatti

Giamatti, a lifelong Red Sox fan, came to prominence as the president of Yale University, where his tough dealing with the college's union favorably impressed baseball's owners. Also appreciated was his devotion to baseball's tradition. Named president of the NL in December 1986, he gained attention for his 30-day suspension of Pete Rose in 1988 after Rose, the Reds' manager, shoved umpire Dave Pallone. After succeeding Peter Ueberroth as Commissioner in April 1989, Giamatti's most famous decision once again involved Rose, whom he suspended for life for gambling. A few weeks later, Giammatti died of a massive heart attack.

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Giamatti received his B.A. (English) and Ph.D. (Comparative Literature) from Yale and, after teaching at Princeton in 1964-66, returned to Yale in 1966. He became Yale's president in July 1978 and served for eight years. He wrote many books and articles on Renaissance literature as well as a number of baseball essays. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 10, 1986: The National League announces that Yale University president A. Bartlett Giamatti will be its next president, after Chub Feeney's retirement in December. » September 1, 1987: In a 3–2 loss to the Cubs, Houston's Billy Hatcher becomes the first player this season to be ejected for using an illegal corked bat, and will eventually be suspended for 10 games by National League president Bart Giamatti. Hatcher claims he borrowed the bat from P Dave Smith and only used it in batting practice. Baseball has seen a rash of protests regarding allegedly doctored bats this season, partly in response to the record number of home runs being hit. » May 2, 1988: Reds manager Pete Rose is suspended for 30 days by National League president Bart Giamatti, the stiffest suspension ever levied against a manager for an on-field incident. On April 30th Rose shoved umpire Dave Pallone in the 9th inning of a 6–5 loss to the Mets, inciting a near riot among Cincinnati fans. » May 22, 1988: Pedro Guerrero throws his bat at David Cone after being hit by a pitch in the Dodgers' 5–2 loss to the Mets and will be suspended for four games by National League president Bart Giamatti. » September 8, 1988: National League president Bart Giamatti is unanimously elected baseball's 7th commissioner, and will succeed Peter Ueberroth next season. » February 21, 1989: Reds manager Pete Rose meets with Commissioner Peter Ueberroth and Commissioner-elect Bart Giamatti to discuss his gambling habits. "You can read anything you want into it," says Rose. "But I don't see anything bad." » August 24, 1989: After weeks of legal wrangling, Commissioner Bart Giamatti permanently bans Pete Rose from baseball for his alleged gambling on ML games. Although the 5-page document signed by both parties includes no formal findings, Giamatti says that he considers Rose's acceptance of the ban to be a no-contest plea to the charges. Coach Tommy Helms is named Rose's interim replacement as Cincinnati manager. » September 1, 1989: Eight days after banning Pete Rose from baseball for life, Commissioner Bart Giamatti dies suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 51. » September 13, 1989: Fay Vincent is elected baseball's 8th commissioner, succeeding the late Bart Giamatti, whom he served as deputy commissioner.