SKU: 73147745922

The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine

Sale price$17.56 Regular price$19.51
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.88 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 17 - Jul 22

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Last Commissioner: A Baseball ValentineOn a beautiful July morning in 1991, three men gathered in a hotel suite for an informal breakfast and conversation. The discussion ranged widely over events and characters of the past, famous names and fabled accomplishments flowing along with the coffee and juice. Two of them, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, were the ultimate symbols of athletic glory for generations of American men. The third man, Fay Vincent, was living a dream, sitting with and

On a beautiful July morning in 1991, three men gathered in a hotel suite for an informal breakfast and conversation. The discussion ranged widely over events and characters of the past, famous names and fabled accomplishments flowing along with the coffee and juice. Two of them, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, were the ultimate symbols of athletic glory for generations of American men. The third man, Fay Vincent, was living a dream, sitting with and asking questions of his boyhood heroes.

Fay Vincent never set out to be the commissioner of baseball. He got into the game alongside his good friend A. Bartlett Giamatti, as deputy commissioner, when Giamatti was named to the sport's highest office in 1989. They spent their first spring and summer dealing with Pete Rose's gambling, and Vincent's legal expertise complemented his friend's moral thunder. But that was to be their only season working side by side, as Bart Giamatti's heart gave out just days after the announcement of the Rose suspension. Vincent found himself the only logical candidate to fill a position as guardian of the best interests of the game he loves.

In The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine, Vincent takes us along for the ultimate fan's fantasy camp. As commissioner, he got to talk baseball with the likes of Yogi Berra, Larry Doby, Warren Spahn, Ernie Banks, Eddie Lopat, Whitey Ford, and Henry Aaron. He brought his legal training to bear on the delicate issue of whether Roger Clemens uttered the magic word that would justify his being tossed out of a playoff game (and it's not the word you think). He was one of the few outsiders at the annual Hall of Fame banquet for the new inductees and their immortal peers, where he watched, amazed, as Johnny Mize demonstrated to Ralph Kiner his method of hitting an inside pitch -- a piece of advice from forty years past. And he brought equal respect and attention to the greats of the Negro Leagues, listening to the gracefully told stories of Joe Black and Buck O'Neil, slowly learning how Slick Surratt earned his nickname, hearing Jimmie Crutchfield give as good a definition of a well-lived life as we will ever know.

Vincent shares these stories and more: his high regard for umpires, instilled in his youth by his father, an NFL official and respected local ump; his close relations with the Bush family, forged in a summer spent working in the oil fields with his schoolmate Bucky Bush, the 41st president's brother (and 43rd president's uncle); his unusual experiences with the relentless George Steinbrenner, including the famous meeting where the Yankees owner was facing a two-year suspension and plea-bargained it down to a lifetime ban. Vincent also gives his candid views on the state of baseball today, firm in his belief that the game will survive its current leadership and even prosper.

Through it all, Vincent's deep love of baseball shines through. His most remarkable accomplishment as commissioner may have been to emerge from the office with his fandom intact. The Last Commissioner is truly a valentine to the game, written with the insight and vision that comes from the lofty perch of the ultimate front-row seat.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 09/21/2007
ISBN: 9781416578017
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.79d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 73147745922

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 25 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
D
Verified Purchase
DSC
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Adorable, Durable, and Dog-Approved!
Size: Medium, Style: Sour Pooch, Size: Medium, Style: Sour Pooch
My dog loves the Sour Pooch dog toy—so much that it’s quickly become one of his favorites! What really surprised me is how durable it is. He’s usually quick to tear toys apart, but this one has held up incredibly well, making it one of the few survivors in his toy box. The toy is super cute, lightweight, and just an all-around fun addition to his collection. It’s been a joy watching him carry it around and play with it daily. I’d definitely purchase again and highly recommend it to other dog lovers looking for a toy that can handle a bit of rough love.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
SCole
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Squeaky and colorful
Size: Small, Style: Skit-Tails
Cute toy. Lots of squeaks. Probably best for a mid sized dog mouth— a chihuahua or Pomeranian might find it a little thick to manage.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
cg77
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
“Candy” dog toy
Size: Small, Style: Mutts & Mongrels
Great toy! I like the toy because it’s durable & it has no appendages to for the dogs to chew off. It will be destroyed at some point but I won’t have to start picking up stuffing for a long time.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023
S
Verified Purchase
Savannah Butler
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Will be repurchasing!
Size: Medium, Style: Sour Pooch
Adorable dog toy. Squeaky and durable! Both of my dogs loved them.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Erin
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy
Size: Medium, Style: Sour Pooch
Good size, as advertised. Dog loves it cuz it’s got crinkle and a squeaker.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2024

recommand products