Giamatti, A. Bartlett

Giamatti, A. Bartlett (jē'əmät`ē), 1938–89, American educator and sports executive, b. Boston. President of Yale Univ. from 1978 to 1986, he was president of baseball's National League (1986–89). Shortly before his death, he was appointed commissioner of major league baseball.

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Giamatti, A. (Angelo) Bartlett (1938–89) educator, baseball executive; born in Boston, Mass. A scholar of Renaissance literature, at age 40 he became the youngest person in 200 years to serve as president of Yale University (1978–86). Long known as a baseball fan, he became president of the National League (1986–89), then took over as commissioner of baseball in April 1989, a position he held for only five months before his untimely death. He presided over Pete Rose's banishment from baseball after an investigation into the player's gambling activities. In addition to his scholarly writings, his Take Time for Paradise: Americans and Their Games (1989) eloquently expressed his appreciation of baseball.