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An academician who taught at Princeton and Yale, Bart Giamatti served as President of Yale for ten years. The lifelong baseball fan jumped when baseball offered him the presidency of the National League.

In two years in that position, he forged a reputation for preserving baseball’s traditions, values and integrity. On September 8, 1988 Giamatti was unanimously elected by the owners as baseball’s seventh Commissioner for a five-year term. He took office on April 1, 1989.

On August 23, 1989 Giamatti was the central figure in the agreement with Pete Rose that banned the career hits leader for life. Nine days later Giamatti had a massive heart attack and died at his summer home in Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Shown here is a check signed by Giamatti in his role as NL chief. Rose has autographed the check just above Giamatti’s signature.

Interestingly the check is made out to umpire Charles Williams, the first African-American to work the plate in a World Series. Williams has endorsed the check on the reverse as has Hall of Fame announcer Jack Buck.

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Though Bart Giamatti served as Commissioner of Baseball for only five months, his role in the lifetime ban of Pete Rose secured his place in baseball history.

The suspension came after investigator John M. Dowd interviewed many of Rose’s associates, including alleged bookies and bet runners. The Dowd report documented Rose’s alleged gambling activities in 1985 and 1986 and compiled a day-by-day account of Rose’s alleged betting on baseball games in 1987. It documented his alleged bets on 52 Reds games in 1987.

Shown here is a closeup of the autographs of both Giamatti and the all-time hits leader who is banned for life. The National League President has of course penned his full legal signature, “A. Bartlett Giamatti”. Below his signature is that of Phyllis Collins, the Vice President and Secretary of the National League and one of the highest ranking women in baseball history.

Many baseball fans can’t help but believe the game would be in a better place today had Bart Giamatti lived a few decades longer.

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The value of this piece comes primarily from the signatures of Bart Giamatti and Pete Rose. The reverse of the check is endorsed by two meaningful figures in baseball history.

This check is made out to Charlie Williams, the first umpire to work the plate in a World Series game. He endorsed the back of the check. Williams passed away in 2005 at the age of 61.

Below Williams’s signature is that of legendary announcer Jack Buck whose play-by-play work earned him recognition from the Baseball and Football Halls of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame among others.

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Pete Rose gambled his way out of baseball. Placed on MLB’s permanently ineligible list, Rose hoped remain eligible for the Cooperstown ballot.

The Hall of Fame dashed the those hopes in February of 1991 with a rule changed. The board of directors declared any man on the baseball’s permanently ineligible list who not appear on any ballot for the Hall.

Known as the Pete Rose rule, it came just before the Hit King first appeared on the writers’ ballot. By then Fay Vincent ruled baseball as commissioner. He succeeded Giamatti who passed away 9 days after banning Rose.

This letter from Vincent clarifies the official situation for Rose. Notice the envelope with the New York postmark of September 3, 1991. That dates it one year to the day before Vincent received a “no-confidence” from the owners.

“Thank you for your recent letter and the interest you have expressed in Major League Baseball. Your comments regarding Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame are duly noted.

“The Hall of Fame committee’s decision regarding people on baseball’s permanently ineligible list was made completely independent of the Commissioner’s Office. As Commissioner I had no role in their debate and subsequent decision.

“Regarding Mr. Rose, I fell it improper to comment on his situation until he applies for reinstatement.”