A. Bartlett Giamatti Biography

Angelo Bartlett Giamatti was a brilliant scholar and specialized in Comparative Literature. As a professor, he left a lasting impression on his students who loved and respected his views on Renaissance. He became the youngest president of Yale. During his presidency, he faced many problems. He had to put the University’s finances in order. He refused to allow Yale divest from companies that had ties with apartheid South Africa. Also, he had to contend with strikes by its clerical and technical workers. His writings on baseball caught the attention of league team owners and administrators. He was appointed the 12th president of the National League. A huge baseball fan from his childhood days, he tried to improve facilities in the ball park for fans. He was the unanimous choice for the post of Commissioner of Major League Baseball. He served only for a short period of six months. During this period, he was engrossed in the Pete Rose scandal. Pete Rose, then the Cincinnati Reds manager, was found guilty of betting on games. Determined to keep the game clean, Rose, a baseball icon, was forced to withdraw from the sport. This was similar to a lifetime ban and gave a strong and clear message to players. Shortly after this, Giamatti suffered a fatal heart attack.