FAY VINCENT
It's pretty funny. I was relatively young when Fay Vincent resigned as Commissioner of baseball on September 7th, 1992. I always had it in my head that Fay Vincent was a bad Commissioner, just because the media and Major League Baseball seemed to portray him that way. When I read Vincent's quote about the Spider Man 2 disgrace I decided to do some research...This is what former Commissioner Vincent said about the Spider Man 2 decision (read "MLB is having a sale" from yesterday for my take on the situation).

"I'm old-fashioned. I'm a romanticist. I think the bases should be protected from this. I feel the same way I do when I see jockeys wear ads: Maybe this is progress, but there's something in me that regrets it very much."

I seriously couldn't agree more. Some criticize comments like this saying "Vincent is so old he has no idea how young people think". Well, I'm in the all-important 18-34 male demographic, and I think that advertisements on the bases are absolutely embarrassing. I remembered Vincent's comments on whether or not Pete Rose should be re-instated, and like I said I looked up some of his past decisions on BaseballLibrary.com...here is what I found.

July 30, 1990: In a surprisingly harsh ruling, Commissioner Fay Vincent orders Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to resign as the club's general partner by August 20th and bans him from day-to-day operation of the team for life. The ruling is a result of Steinbrenner's $40,000 payment to confessed gambler Howie Spira for damaging information about since-traded Yankee star Dave Winfield.

Maybe suspending Steinbrenner for life was a bit harsh, but at least he was serious about keeping gamblers away from the game. I don't see how that can be thought of as a bad thing. Tough against gamblers, I'll propose that's reason #1 Bud Selig and his boys didn't want Vincent in office.

March 12, 1991: Commissioner Fay Vincent orders a ban on the use of smokeless tobacco in the Class A Appalachian and Northwest leagues and the rookie Pioneer and Gulf Coast leagues.

Smokleless tobacco is banned in all of the minor leagues now, but it's not enforced at all. It's also banned in college baseball and is rarely enforced.

April 10, 1991: Sixty-eight-year-old Minnie Minoso is denied a chance to appear in a professional game in his 6th consecutive decade by baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent. Minoso had been scheduled to suit up for the independent Miami Miracle of the Class A Florida State League in their April 13 game against the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees. Vincent refuses to allow Minoso to sign a contract, even for a single night.

Vincent wouldn't let Minnie Minoso make a mockery of the game. Good. Publicity stunts to draw people to the park are fine, but not when it involves the actual game itself. Have a "ladies night" or "golf umbrella night", not a "disgrace the game night".

June 24, 1992: Yankees P Steve Howe is permanently banned from baseball by Commissioner Fay Vincent after having pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to purchase a gram of cocaine. It is Howe's 7th ban from the game, as he becomes the 1st player ever permanently banned from baseball because of drugs.

7th time is a charm I suppose.

Overall Fay Vincent seemed to be a strong Commissioner. He wasn't afraid to ban people from the game (Steinbrenner, Steve Howe), and I'm guessing that scared a lot of people, especially the owners who are about as crooked of a bunch of people as you will find. So why was Fay Vincent forced out? Isn't the answer obvious? The man has integrity. He wanted to keep the game clean. He wasn't looking to make a quick buck, like all the owners and players are. Do you think Vincent would have supported Interleague play? the Wild-Card? The All-Star Game determining home-field advantage in the World Series? SPIDER MAN 2 LOGOS ON THE BASES?!?! Hell no.

Fans, media, and people in general like to think of the term "traditionalist" or "purist" as a bad thing. I never understood this. What is wrong with wanting to preserve the game? If not being a purist means selling out history, tradition and dignity in the name of cash at every possible moment, thanks, but no thanks. Fay Vincent is a purist. Bob Costas is a purist. I am a purist. We are a dying breed. As more purists go away, the more Major League Baseball will begin to look more like the WWF/NASCAR/XFL. Oh yeah, Don't forget to go see Spider Man 2. If you forgot when it is opening, just check the bases and pitching mound at any MLB park from June 11-June 13.