Bart Giamatti
| Birthdate | 4/4/1938 |
| Death Date | 9/1/1989 |
| Debut Year | 1986 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | MLB, National League |
| Positions | Commissioner, League President |
Best known for his banishment of Pete Rose, Bart Giamatti served as Commissioner for five months, the shortest reign in baseball history.
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In 1989 Bart Giamatti handed down Pete Rose's lifetime ban for gambling on baseball
In 1989 Bart Giamatti handed down Pete Rose's lifetime ban for gambling on baseball
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.
The comprehensive Dowd Report accumulated indisputable evedence that Rose bet on the game
The comprehensive Dowd Report accumulated indisputable evedence that Rose bet on the game
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.
Charlie Williams is the first African-American umpire to call balls and strikes in the World Series
Charlie Williams is the first African-American umpire to call balls and strikes in the World Series
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.
