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Fay Vincent was a brilliant man by any measure. Armed with a penchant for learning and a quick mind, Vincent graduated with honors from Yale Law School.

He soon entered the business world and found success at every turn. In the late 80s, he accepted the offer of fellow Yale man and longtime friend Bart Giamatti to become deputy commissioner of baseball.

When Giamatti died unexpectedly in September of 1989, Vincent became baseball’s 8th commissioner. His first 12 months as baseball’s chief was eventful.

The 1989 World Series featuring the neighboring Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake. In the following spring training, team owners locked out the players.

At the end of July in 1990, Vincent handed down a lifetime ban to Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. The Boss paid $40,000 to gambler Howard Spira to dig up dirt on New York outfielder Dave Winfield.

Steinbrenner applied for reinstatement two years later after Vincent left office.

Later Vincent presided over baseball’s expansion with the creation of the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins.

As commissioner Vincent was a baseball traditionalist. An outspoken critic of the DH rule he expressed his view in an interview with Pat O’Brien during CBS’ telecast of Game 4 of the 1991 World Series.

In this letter dated March 16, 1992, Vincent writes, “As a traditionalist, I do not favor the designated hitter rule. However, the commissioner by himself does not have the power to change such a rule.”

His term expired in 1992 and Vincent was replaced on an interim basis by Brewers owner Bud Selig. The Milwaukee man eventually removed the interim tag and presided over the game until 2015.

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Pete Rose gambled his way out of baseball. Placed on MLB’s permanently ineligible list, Rose hoped remain eligible for the Cooperstown ballot.

The Hall of Fame dashed the those hopes in February of 1991 with a rule changed. The board of directors declared any man on the baseball’s permanently ineligible list who not appear on any ballot for the Hall.

Known as the Pete Rose rule, it came just before the Hit King first appeared on the writers’ ballot. By then Fay Vincent ruled baseball as commissioner. He succeeded Giamatti who passed away 9 days after banning Rose.

This letter from Vincent clarifies the official situation for Rose. Notice the envelope with the New York postmark of September 3, 1991. That dates it one year to the day before Vincent received a “no-confidence” from the owners.

“Thank you for your recent letter and the interest you have expressed in Major League Baseball. Your comments regarding Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame are duly noted.

“The Hall of Fame committee’s decision regarding people on baseball’s permanently ineligible list was made completely independent of the Commissioner’s Office. As Commissioner I had no role in their debate and subsequent decision.

“Regarding Mr. Rose, I fell it improper to comment on his situation until he applies for reinstatement.”