Within the past few days, 81-year-old Pete Rose wrote this letter to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred:
I became a baseball fan in 1963 when I was nine years old (FYI: I will be 69 next week!). I grew up near Dayton, Ohio (about 50 miles North of Cincinnati), and my father was a Cincinnati Reds fan. Therefore, I went to quite a few Reds games every year. “Charlie Hustle” (aka Pete Rose) was a staple of my baseball life. But I was not a fan! I thought he was a “hot dog.” I did not like Pete Rose in the least when I lived in Ohio. I think it boiled down to the fact that I did not appreciate Pete Rose!
In 1976, I moved to Indiana for a new job. It was only about 120 miles away AND I am forever grateful I ended up in Indianapolis. However, Cincinnati was still less than 100 miles away, and I have always attended many Reds games each year. Of course, I was a Dodger fan – my father and I enjoyed the sparring back and forth, but I have been in fistfights in Cincinnati with fans of the Big Red Machine. The only fist fight I have ever lost was to a Reds fan who threw a tube of been in my face before hitting me with two hooks. I saw the third one coming (after the beer was out of my eyes), and I chased him several rows before Security caught him first… maybe saving me from a Murder Conviction.
As time moved on, I came to appreciate Pete Rose. He was arrogant and obnoxious, but damn… he never (and I mean NEVER) stopped hustling! Though he only hit 160 HR in his 24-year career, he had over 200 hits ten times. He has 746 doubles and 135 triples to go with his 4,256 Hits. He is the “Hit King.” He was Charlie Hustle. He was/is also a flawed man. He bet on baseball as a manager. The fact that he only bet on his team to win has to be under consideration. He never threw a game, but he was wrong to bet on baseball.
He played in 3,528 games: 939 at 1B, 673 in LF, 634 at 3B, 628 at 2B, 589 in RF, and 73 in CF. Who in the hell does that?
Piece of trash is piece of trash.
A well written letter…..by someone Pete paid to write it most likely.
If Manfred reinstates Pete it will be the capstone on a shameful tenure as Commissioner. It would fit right on top of NOT disciplining the 2017 Astros in ANY meaningful way.
Didn’t vacate the “championship” nor the A.L. pennant, didn’t take back the player’s rings nor their financial shares. Did not make the organization formally apologize to the New York Yankees nor the Los Angeles Dodgers, didn’t make ownership pay any serious, lasting penalty.
Pete, you COULD have apologized ONCE and admitted betting on baseball games too. You didn’t. You get what you got.
I held out for a long time on Pete Rose and any eligibility for the HOF. He committed one of the original sins in baseball. On every clubhouse door I ever saw there was a notice warning against touching an umpire and betting on baseball. That sin came close to closing down baseball in 1919. To avoid further punishment, Pete made a deal with Commish Bart Giamatti agreeing to a lifetime ban. Pete has claimed that Bart had agreed to pardon him in a couple of years. But we’ll never know as ole Bart up and died soon after, leaving no evidence of such a deal. Pete lied, denied and showed no contrition which has led to his continued banishment.
Until now. Pete has come clean and fessed up for some time now. This has gone on far too long. The Hit King needs to be inducted into the Hall. Enough is enough. The final act for me changing my mind is now witnessing the hypocrisy of MLB promoting and advertising the Sports Betting Services in the stadiums and on TV. How sports gambling can be promoted in game now and still continuing to ban Pete for sports betting is a display of Pharisaism. Do something right for a change Rob. Let Pete in.
Let him in. No ceremony, no on field ceremonies. No card signing s. But let him in. There are other athletes in other sports who have committed worse things than betting! Let him in with a plaque and nothing else. I can’t stand the guy but other than watching Tony Gwynn hit he was the best. Glad Clayton is coming back! Like the idea of degrom for 2-3 years. If trea walks sign bogarts, to hell with Correa! Hate to see jt in a different uniform. Big right handed bat needed in left field, then Cody can stay another year and maybe get some of his swagger back. I’m not sold on any of the young outfielder s , like them, sure, but give me an established bat now. Go uva basketball!
All actions have consequences.
I’m decidedly ambivalent on Rose.
Pete Rose had an unbelievable career as a player.. There is no question in my mind he should be given the opportunity to be voted into the Hall of Fame based upon that career as a player. His mistakes as a manager should not keep him from his consideration as a player.
Let Pete Rose into the Hall.
There’s no doubt Pete was/is a world class A Hole but he should be in the Hall of Fame for what he did as a player.
I have never wavered one bit as to how I feel about this. Pete Rose does not belong in the hall simply because he knew the rules and thought he was above them. He had an addiction and it led him to where he is now. Had Pete apologized all those years ago I think fans would be more forgiving. He was a great competitor, and he came to beat you every game. But if you let Pete in, and do not do the same for Shoeless Joe, who obviously has the credentials and was not convicted of anything, then that is not justice. I do not think Pete should be able to profit from being a Hall of famer. He already charges large sums for his autograph at card shows. He accepted the lifetime ban. He knew what that meant. For what he did on the field he belongs. He may never have quote-unquote, thrown a game, but as manager, he was in a position to affect the outcome of every game he managed simply because he made out the lineups, chose the pitchers and during the game made substitutions that could affect the outcome and the betting line of the game. Baseball has okayed legalized betting. What Pete was doing was not legal betting. He was using bookies. If they want to put him in after he passes away, so be it, but he is not even under consideration this year since the 8 players already selected for consideration by the ERA committee. Three players closely connected to PED’s are on that list, Bonds, Clemens and Palmiero. Rules are rules, and just because one has impeccable credentials, doesn’t mean they are exempt from following those rules. I admire his skills, but he is the one who put himself in this position.
It’s very stupid for baseball to be so stubborn and vengeful. Anyone should be able to screw up, make amends and be forgiven. It’s not like Cooperstown doesn’t have a bunch of Rose stuff in it. It’s hypocritical to keep him out. Let him in, it’s time.
Same thing for the best of the best of the steroid era. MLB turns a blind eye to steroids because it was making baseball popular after losing fans from the ugliness of a strike. Then, they punish players for participating in encouraged behavior. It’s all very hypocritical especially since the players from previous generations get a bye.
I disagree. The gambling rule has been in place since the scandal in 1919. When a player, any player, makes a conscious decision to do something that is against the rules, and in Pete’s case, where they are in a position to affect the outcome of the game, and then denies any wrongdoing even after accepting the ban, screw em. Pete was a great player, but he is not a very nice person. He ruined his own life. Same with Bonds. Bonds actually has a chance this year since he is on the ERA committee ballot. Rose has zero chance since he is not on that ballot and the next ERA meeting is in two years if memory serves me right.
Not a big fan of Pete, but I would vote for him before someone I knew was a drug cheater.
Not that I care one way or the other because I don’t care for Rose, but I find it rich that Rose gambled, denied it, and then fessed up and got a lifetime ban and cannot be voted into the HOF. And then the commissioner lets the players from the 2017 Astros who initially denied cheating and only admitted to cheating only if the commissioner gave them immunity. They got the title, money, rings, and glory. Therefore, all those players should be banned from the HOF because what they did actually affected the outcome of games. Added to all of this MLB now heavily promotes gambling on baseball. Being Rose didn’t gamble as a player and that what the HOF exemplifies then let the voters hold their noses and vote Rose in. There have been so many unworthy players voted into the Hall (especially recently) over the years. The fans have no idea of what some HOF players might have done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that today would make them ineligible for entry. Just sayin’
Carry on.
right on post as usual, tedraymond
Great comment. I agree completely.
Or exactly what happened in 2017 so a team could win a WS. And to tarnish the image of an all time great and honorable pitcher in game 6!
It seems odd. If the purpose of Cooperstown is to recognize the truly exceptional players in baseball’s history, how do you not admit the current holder of the all time hits leader record?
What is the Baseball Hall of Fame? What is its purpose? Is it an honorary distinction or is it more like a museum where baseball’s history through its great players is curated and preserved.
I always thought, with Rose or Barry Bonds, that they should be recognized, but with an asterisk. Yes. Rose was arguably the best hitter of all time. Yes. Rose hurt the integrity of the game. Both of those facets should be recognized, IMO.
The HOF only adopted the policy regarding MLB’s permanent ban list because of Rose. Many people believe Joe Jackson was never in the HOF because he was on the list. He was actually on the ballot twice and only received 4 total HOF votes. Jackson was rejected by the voters.
In Rose’s case, the allegations were still pretty fresh and largely unresolved. As publicly Rose was still denying all the allegations. The logic was that making the HOF is often a financial windfall for those who are enshrined. There was a relatively new phenomenon in the 90s. Players on Rose’s level began making hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions on card show appearances and autograph contracts. Today, simply adding “HOF w/year” is a $50 -$150 upcharge as an inscription added to autographs. They simply didn’t want to give Rose a financial windfall given the allegations and his continued denials. Despite accepting the permanent ban. Which was all but an admission of guilt. Rose was trying to have it both ways and the HOF wouldn’t have any of it.
To this day I believe Rose’s motives are financial. Being a HOFer would dramatically increases demand for his memorabilia and likeness. As well as be massive news in the sports. Further increasing his income possibilities.
If I were to ever agree with Rose being in the HOF, it would be after his death. He should get no financial benefit from it. IMHO.
Actually, it’s pretty simple … they both cheated, neither should be recognized. If we’re really trying to teach our kiddos that truth and doing the right thing matters, then every time WE have the opportunity … let’s do the right thing.
This is a pretty simple for me. I’ve read multiple books in the 1919 BlackSox. The permanent bans (they aren’t lifetime, but permanent) were meant to make it clear that there is only one unforgivable sin in baseball. Doing so was necessary to save the sport.
Pete Rose lied for years. Never admired anything. He agreed to the permanent ban so MLB would stop investigating his gambling. Because he knew the longer they looked the more proof would become public. So he continued to lie.
When did he come clean? When he was promoting his damn book in the early 2000s. The book wouldn’t have sold 99% of the copies it did if he didn’t do a series of press interviews finally “coming clean” just prior to its release. It was a ploy to sell more books.
He continues to use the controversy surrounding his betting on baseball to sell autographs. He was a great ball player. But he is also a POS. The only reason he came clean, and continues to push for reinstatement is to keep his name in the spotlight. For money.
On his website, as we speak.
https://peterose.com/product/autographed-baseball-im-sorry-i-bet-on-baseball/
Rose is an interesting case. He committed the act when he was a manager, but Rose, the player, is being punished. This has been going on forever now. About 40 years? People get out of jail for worse crimes in a lot less time.
In general, I’m not a fan of life sentences or lifetime bans. They should be reserved for only the most heinous crimes, like cheating in a World Series? Like other people here, I find this completely hypocritical. But, this is the society that we live in, and people don’t seem to have a problem with it.
I would like to see Rose’s lifetime ban lifted, he’s been punished long enough. Move on, let the hate go.
It isn’t hate. I admire Rose the player although I never liked him. But he was a Red, a Expo a Phillie, what was to like. He broke the big one, the one rule that is written on EVERY WALL OF EVERY CLUBHOUSE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. Gambling almost ruined the game, cheating and stealing signs has been a part of the game, and more or less condoned ever since they were pitching underhand. The spitball wasn’t outlawed until the 20’s. And even then, pitchers who used it as their primary pitch were allowed to continue to use it until they retired. Rose accepted the punishment, end of story. One more thing, Pete was not going to legal gambling places and laying down bets, he was making bets with bookies. What he was doing was illegal also.
Yasiel Puig just agreed to plead guilty to lying to investigators in an illegal gambling operation.
As stated multiple times there is as much of a chance for Puig to be playing next year as a Dodger as Bauer.
I have never wanted Puig back or believed he would be back.
I do not necessarily want Bauer back, but there is a decent chance he will come back.
Id like to have Bauer back if he comes back at the level he was at.
I think he’ll have a chip on his shoulder and will breathe some life into the club….plus he is a darn good pitcher….
Pete Rose bet on Baseball Games while He was a Baseball Player ! He broke the Law ! He knew what He was doing all the time ! He was banned from Baseball ⚾ and getting into the HOF ! You do the Crime,You do the Time ! Stop Your Crying Pete Rose !
Actually, Pete bet on baseball as a Manager… not a Player!
The initial transactions in the MLB include two relievers staying with their teams: Robert Suarez with Padres and Rafael Montero with Astros.
Suarez is a 31 year old reliever who pitched this year in MLB after 5 years in Japan. He had an era of 2.27 in 45 games. He signed for 5 yrs and $46 million guaranteed. This seems like quite a lucrative contract for a reliever, but he pitched great for the Padres this year.
Montero is a 32 year old reliever who had 2.37 era in 71 games with the Astros. He signed for 3yrs and $35 million.
For his career, Montero has a 4.82 era in 212 games. He appeared in 10 postseason games for the Astros with a 1.93 era. The Astros found some magic to improve Montero, but amazing that he would get nearly $12 million AAV after one good season.
These two signings, along with Diaz getting $100 million from the Mets, seem to indicate early demand for players this year. A robust free agent market may influence the Dodgers plans to tap the young talent or utilize the trade market instead.
Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic) on the offseason:
If you’re the Dodgers, and your team is sitting on a wealth of young talent, why would you carry another $280 million in payroll when you can reach the postseason at a lower amount and stand perhaps the same chance of winning the World Series if the team gets hot at the right time?
I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Ken Rosenthal, but his thinking is spot on. We have Freeman and Betts as the highly paid foundation. Add Will Smith, Max, Muncy, and Gavin Lux into the mix the team can afford to add in some prospects. As this past year has shown a team only needs to win 85-89 games to get into the playoffs. Sure the wild card team has to win a couple of extra games to continue on the path to the WS, but that apparently is no big deal. Also, not having home field advantage isn’t much of a deterrent. I say bring up the kids and let them play. Both position players and pitchers. If not, then trade them for established talent. Like I’ve said in the past having a top five minor league system year after year proves what if that system can’t provide solid major league players? Either play them or trade them. Some will succeed and some will fail. The Dodgers should give them the opportunity and find out.
Are you content with Lux at short and Vargas at third and Outman and Busch on the bench and possibly starting? And making additions at the deadline if needed? Then AF signs a frontline starter or trades for one. Would that team be good enough to win 90+ games and make the playoffs? And then get hot?
I think it would like catching lightning in a bottle if Outman or Busch was anything more than an average hitter. And that combo of young infielders doesn’t project as a very good defensive infield. That would be quite a gamble by AF but it would reset the tax limits.
Rose did throw games as a manager by utilizing the complete roster for games he had $ on making the roster less complete on games he didn’t bet on. That is the same as as throwing games for $. The tree was poisoned by his hidden agenda plain and almost simple. While it’s hard to see how different the history would of been written, Pete surely made it so. Pete is like a bad umpire and neither belong to glory. Let him eat his own sins. MLB has plenty of sins on both sides and it’s a shame that there’s so much at question. I have my own HOF and I really don’t care who’s in Cooperstown. Pete really doesn’t either other than himself.
I’ve been bucking a stacked deck most of my life and it’s not anything I’m proud of that I’ve cheated by throwing monkey wrenches of my own into their games. Fighting fire with fire has saved my ass many times but where does the bullshit end?
WTF is Tyler Anderson thinking? He had 19.65M in hand on a one year deal with a chance to cash in next year and he took a 3 year deal worth $40M. How does this make any sense? What an idiot! Why not wait it out a little?
Maybe he is an idiot!
I’ll take the draft pick… thank you very much.
1. Urias
2. Gonsolin
3. Kershaw
4. May
5. Stone
6. Pepiot
I’m good!