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Rob Manfred Saddened By Death Of Former MLB Commissioner

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Feb 2, 2025 5:16 PM ET

It was a Sunday of mourning for Rob Manfred and the rest of the MLB world as the sport said goodbye to former commissioner Fay Vincent this weekend.

Vincent, who briefly served as MLB's commissioner from 1989-1992, passed away at the age of 86.

"Fay Vincent played a vital role in ensuring that the 1989 Bay Area World Series resumed responsibly following the earthquake prior to Game Three, and he oversaw the process that resulted in the 1993 National League expansion to Denver and Miami," Manfred shared in a statement.

"Mr. Vincent served the game during a time of many challenges, and he remained proud of his association with our National Pastime throughout his life. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Fay's family and friends."

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. issued the following statement today regarding the passing of former Commissioner Fay Vincent, who served Major League Baseball in that capacity from 1989-1992, at the age of 86:

“Fay Vincent played a vital role in ensuring that… pic.twitter.com/xrk2McWjVl
— MLB (@MLB) February 2, 2025

Vincent took over as commissioner in 1989 following the sudden death of his close friend A. Bartlett Giamatti and oversaw the 1990 lockout and the banning/reinstatement of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

Vincent's tenure ended just three years later, when pressured to resign by a majority of the league's owners, but his love for the game never wavered.

He went on to became a private investor and the president of the New England Collegiate Baseball League from 1998-2004; and he often wrote about how much the game meant to him throughout his life.

His run as Major League Baseball's eighth commissioner may not have been the most memorable. But his time in office helped lead to the formation of the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies — which changed the course of the National League's future.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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