A. Bartlett Giamatti

Date of Birth: April 4, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: September 1, 1989

Biography

Angelo Bartlett Giamatti, commonly known as A. Bartlett Giamatti, was an influential American educator, scholar, and university administrator who later became the seventh Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on April 4, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts, Giamatti grew up in a family deeply rooted in academia; his father was a professor at Mount Holyoke College, and his mother was a teacher. He graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1960 and his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the same institution in 1964. Giamatti’s academic career was marked by his tenure as a professor of literature at Yale, where he specialized in Renaissance literature and became a beloved figure among students and colleagues. In 1978, he was appointed as the President of Yale University, becoming the youngest person to hold that position at the age of 40. During his presidency, he was known for his eloquence, his commitment to liberal arts education, and his efforts to diversify the student body. In 1986, Giamatti made a significant career shift by becoming the President of the National League of MLB. He was later elected as the Commissioner of MLB in 1989. His tenure as Commissioner was short but impactful, most notably for his firm stance during the Pete Rose betting scandal, which led to Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball. Giamatti passed away suddenly from a heart attack on September 1, 1989, in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, leaving behind a legacy marked by his contributions to both academia and professional sports.

5 Interesting Facts about A. Bartlett Giamatti

1. Giamatti was the youngest president in Yale University’s history, assuming the role at age 40.

2. He was an expert in Renaissance literature, particularly the works of Dante Alighieri.

3. Giamatti was responsible for the lifetime ban of Pete Rose from baseball due to betting on games.

4. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, despite his professional affiliation with MLB.

5. Giamatti’s son, Paul Giamatti, is a well-known actor famous for his roles in movies such as “Sideways” and the TV series “Billions.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from A. Bartlett Giamatti

1. “There are many who lust for the simple answers of doctrine or decree. They are on the left and on the right. They are not confined to a single party or a single nation. They are terrorists of the mind.”

2. “The university is a series of individual entrepreneurs held together by a common grievance about parking.”

3. “All I ever wanted to be President of was the American League.”

4. “Teaching is an instinctual art, mindful of potential, craving of realizations, a pausing, seamless process.”

5. “Baseball breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, A. Bartlett Giamatti’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, primarily derived from his academic and MLB roles.

Children

A. Bartlett Giamatti had three children with his wife, Toni Marilyn Smith: Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti, an acclaimed actor; Marcus Giamatti, an actor and musician; and Elena Rachel Giamatti, a jewelry designer.