Banned from baseball for life in 1989 for betting on games, one of the greatest baseball players of all times deserves a place in Baseball’s Hall of Fame
On this Easter Sunday, when Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, it is way past time for the resurrection of Peter ….. former baseball great Pete Rose that is.
Pete Rose was without question one of the greatest players ever to put on a baseball uniform. And he achieved his many records without resorting to the use of steroids.
From Wikipedia:
Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and outs (10,328). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and also made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions.
In 1989, Rose was banned from baseball for life because he gambled on baseball games. Rose admitted he bet on games, but he adamantly denied that he ever bet on games involving his own team. There has never been one shred of evidence that Rose ever bet on a game in which he played.
Baseball’s longtime Commissioner Bud Selig rejected numerous requests by Rose and others to lift that lifetime ban. To this day, Selig insists that Rose must never be reinstated.
Now baseball has a new commissioner. Rob Manfred has received a formal reinstatement request from Rose. Last month he told reporters that he would speak with Rose. “I'm prepared to deal with that request on its merits,” Manfred said.
The new commissioner has also said that Rose could still be elected to the Hall of Fame without being reinstated because the Hall is not operated by MLB.
It has been my opinion for many years that Pete Rose deserves to be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. His many records cannot be erased by his sins. Even though Rose has been a premier asshole on many occasions, being an asshole should not disqualify him from membership in the Hall. As for betting on games, a one or two year suspension would have been an adequate punishment. A lifetime ban was way out of line.
1 comment:
Being an asshole and a crook should disqualify him from the Hall of Fame. He belongs in the Hall of Shame!
Baseball used to be the national pastime. Now its a joke. Steroid use, player strikes and behavior problems have ruined the game.
I wouldn't pay anything to see a baseball game.
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