A. Bartlett Giamatti had an accomplished life that included being the president of Yale University and president of the National League in 1986, but he may be more well-known as the seventh Commissioner of Major League Baseball.  Sadly, Giamatti’s stint as baseball commissioner only lasted from April 1, 1989 to September 1, 1989.

On this day, September 1st, in 1989, Bart Giamatti died very suddenly and unexpectedly.  Giamatti suffered a massive heart attack and became the second baseball commissioner to die in office.  His death came a mere 8 days after Giamatti negotiated Pete Rose’s gambling induced ban from baseball.

Giamatti was honored during Game 1 of the 1989 World Series by his son, who threw the game’s first pitch and with a moment of silence.