On August 23 1989 Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti handed down one of the most publicized and scrutinized lifetime bans in baseball history. That was the day Commissioner Giamatti cemented the agreement and resolution that banned Peter Edward Rose better known as Pete Rose from Major League Baseball. The matter was stemming from an exhaustive and comprehensive investigation that was instituted by Giamatti on March 6 1989 concerning allegations that Peter Edward Rose the field manager of the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Club engaged in conduct not in the best interests of baseball in violation of major League Rule 21 including but not limited to betting on Major League Baseball games in connection with which he had a duty to perform. Following six months of investigation and shared information and meetings between both parties the Commissioner handed down the ruling that Peter Edward Rose is hereby declared permanently ineligible in accordance with Major League Rule 21 and placed on the Ineligible List.

This lot features the five-page type-written Agreement and Resolution that was signed by the following parties abiding by this ruling on Aug. 23 1989: Peter Edward Rose; A. Bartlett Giamatti Commissioner of Baseball; Reuven J. Katz Esq. Roses counsel; and Fay Vincent Jr. MLB Deputy Commissioner. Rule 21 states in part: BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player umpire or club official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year. Any player umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

Incredibly less than 10 days following this historic ruling on Sept. 1 1989 Giamatti suffered a fatal heart attack while vacationing at his home on Marthas Vineyard. He was just 51 years old. His tenure as MLB Commissioner lasted just 154 days and he became just the second baseball commissioner to die in office the first being Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Following Giamattis death MLBs team owners soon selected Fay Vincent Giamatti's close friend and baseball's first-ever deputy commissioner as the new baseball commissioner. While Giamattis time as Baseball Commissioner was short-lived his impact as MLBs top gun is still being felt several decades later.

This lot also includes a signed one-page type-written page from Rose that states: On August 23 1989 I signed an agreement with Major League Baseball. The contract was sent from their offices and it was returned to me countersigned by Bart Giamatti and Fay Vincent. Also attached was the fully executed agreement I received back from Major League Baseball.

Full LOA's from both PSA/DNA and JSA.