A. Bartlett Giamatti was born in Boston and grew up in South Hadley, Massachusetts. His dad was a professor and chairman of the Department of Italian Language and Literature at Mount Holyoke College, and his grandparents on his dad’s side came to the United States from Italy. His mom’s parents were from Wakefield, Massachusetts, and his granddad had gone to a famous school called Phillips Academy Andover and then to Harvard College.

Giamatti went to South Hadley High School and even spent a year studying in Rome. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 1956 and later went to Yale College. At Yale, he was part of a fraternity called Delta Kappa Epsilon and was also chosen for a secret society called Scroll and Key. He graduated with high honors in 1960.

In 1960, he got married to Toni Marilyn Smith. She was a teacher for many years at the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut, until she passed away in 2004. They had three children: Paul and Marcus, who became actors, and Elena, who became a jewelry designer.

In 1964, Giamatti stayed in New Haven to get his doctorate. He also published a volume of essays by Thomas G. Bergin, co-edited a book, and became a professor at Yale University. He later became the head of Ezra Stiles College. He taught at Princeton for a short time but spent most of his career at Yale, where he focused on English Renaissance literature, like Edmund Spenser, and how English and Italian poets were connected.

From 1978 to 1986, Giamatti was the president of Yale University, making him the youngest president they ever had. During his time as president, there was a big strike by the university’s clerical and technical workers in 1984–1985. He also made a decision not to stop investing in South Africa during apartheid, despite protests from students, faculty, and the community. He also banned a game called Bladderball on campus due to strange pranks and injuries in 1982.

Besides his work at Yale, he also served on the board of trustees at Mount Holyoke College. He was recognized for his achievements and became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1980 and a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1982

Bart Giamatti really loved baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. In 1978, when people started talking about him becoming the president of Yale University, he jokingly said he only wanted to be the president of the American League, which is a part of Major League Baseball.

He wrote some important articles about baseball, like one about Tom Seaver in 1977 and another about baseball and American culture in 1986. In 1986, he became the president of the National League, which is one of the two big leagues in baseball. He cared a lot about making baseball games better for fans and wanted umpires to enforce the rules more strictly.

While he was the National League president, he suspended Pete Rose for 30 games because Rose pushed an umpire in 1988. He also suspended Jay Howell, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, for three days in the same year for using pine tar.

In 1988, all the people who owned Major League Baseball teams voted to make Giamatti the commissioner of baseball, which is the highest job in the sport. He started the job on April 1, 1989. Giamatti really wanted to keep baseball fair and honest. In 1989, he talked to Pete Rose and convinced him to agree to never play baseball again because of some things Rose did wrong.

So, Bart Giamatti was a big baseball fan who became a powerful figure in the sport and worked to make sure it was played the right way.

Everything I do is me. I don’t like taking ideas from people unless they’re the G.O.A.T.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie

While spending time at his vacation house in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, Bart Giamatti, who had been a heavy smoker for many years, tragically passed away from a heart attack at the age of 51. This happened just eight days after he banned Pete Rose from baseball and 154 days into his time as the commissioner.

Giamatti was laid to rest at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut. He became the second baseball commissioner to pass away while holding the position, with the first being Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1944.

After Giamatti’s sudden death, his close friend Fay Vincent, who was the first deputy commissioner of baseball, took over as acting commissioner. MLB team owners later chose him to be the new commissioner. On October 14, 1989, during Game 1 of the World Series, there was a moment of silence in Giamatti’s honor, as this World Series was dedicated to his memory. Giamatti’s son Marcus threw the first pitch, and before the game, the Yale Whiffenpoofs sang a special rendition of the national anthem, combining “The Star-Spangled Banner” with “America the Beautiful.” This unique performance has since been replicated by other a cappella groups.

Bart Giamatti, the former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, was also an accomplished writer and scholar. He authored several books during his lifetime. Here are the books written by Bart Giamatti:

1. “Take Time for Paradise: Americans and Their Games” (1989): This book explores the significance of sports in American culture and society, offering insights into the role of games in people’s lives.
2. “A Free and Ordered Space: The Real World of the University” (1988): In this book, Giamatti reflects on the challenges and ideals of higher education and the role of the university in shaping individuals and society.
3. “The Earthly Paradise and the Renaissance Epic” (1966): This book delves into the study of Renaissance literature, particularly focusing on the epic genre and its cultural context.

These books reflect Giamatti’s interests in sports, education, and literature, showcasing his diverse intellectual pursuits beyond his role in baseball administration.