I hope Pete Rose is grateful.
Baseball's all-time home run king (without asterisks) and sports legend Hank Aaron is campaigning for disgraced hit leader Pete Rose to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Commissioner Bud Selig is listening and is now said to be considering making Rose eligible.
The tip-off that may have led Selig to consider pardoning Rose was Hank Aaron's seemingly impromptu interview session with a small group of reporters in the lobby of the Otesaga Hotel on Saturday.
In declaring for the first time that he would want an asterisk put on the achievements of any steroid cheats elected to the Hall of Fame, Aaron brought up Rose, who, in August of 1989, was given a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball, saying: "I would like to see Pete in. He belongs there." Source: MLB Commissioner Bud Selig mulling pardon for hit king Pete Rose, NY Daily News
Even if Selig reinstates Rose, it would likely be with major conditions attached. Rose could be required to make another public apology and would most likely be prohibited from managing. Even then, it's not a done deal.If Selig does reinstate him, Rose then would become eligible for the Hall of Fame but only on the Veterans Committee ballot, as his 15 years on the Baseball Writers ballot expired during his time on the ineligible list. He would thus have to be elected by his peers, the 65 living members in the Hall of Fame, not all of whom agree with Aaron, Morgan and Robinson that Rose has done his time. It's hard to say if he would get the necessary 75 percent for election.
"I know there are still guys who feel strongly against him," said one Hall of Famer, "and I don't know if that would change even if Selig clears him." Source: NY Daily News
Should Pete Rose be allowed into the Hall of Fame? Tell us in your comments below.
Comments: (16)
Add a comment
By: Marshall E. Selph on 7/28/2009 8:27AM
I strongly supports the idea of Pete Rose being allowed into the hall of fame, he deserves it even though he committed the crime of gambling on baseball games. There isn't too many actual in the hall that's done more for baseball than Pete in terms of actual game actions, meaning ofcourse, playing the game and his accomplishments on the field. I think he's paid his dues and should be allowed into baseball's hall of fame.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Wanda from Riverdale NYC on 7/28/2009 12:40PM
It's time to give "Charlie Hustle" his due!He should have been judged based upon his CAREER, not on an addiction, which is what gambling basically became for him.LET PETE INTO THE HALL OF FAME!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jack Flash on 7/28/2009 2:29PM
I believe, despite the evidence of gambling on baseball games that earned Rose a lifetime ban from baseball, that he should be allowed the chance to be voted into the Hall of Fame by his peers. It's clear that Rose's infractions (as far as we know) happened as a manager, not as a player -- and that is what he would be judged for as a HOF candidate: his accomplishments as a player. Somebody got those 4,000+ hits and it's pretty onvious to anyone who ever saw him play that Pete Rose always played hard and played to win. He never exhibited any behavior that suggested he tried to throw a game or under-performed deliberately due to a gambling bet. Bottom line is, his memorabilia (uniforms, bats, balls) is indeed already at the HOF on display for fans, so it's hypocritical to deny him a plaque rightfully earned AS A PLAYER. I'm not a Reds or Pete Rose fan, but I am a lifelong baseball fan with an appreciation of its history and the players who gave everything to it. Ultimately, I think this is about fairness and justice (and maybe even forgiving) and ackowledging Rose for what he did on the field -- not off it, or after his playing days were done. Don't let Rose ever manage, fine. But somebody got more hits than anyone in history and played the game as hard as it's ever been played. Let's not delude ourselves either with some ridiculous notion that baseball itself is sacrosanct. As we know too well, it has been guilty of a multitude of sins and shortcomings as an institution. (Besides the obvious black mark of segregation, there are HOFers whose documented histories horrible racism, bigotry, criminal records, etc. were, to me, far greater than the fact Rose was addicted to gambling). I think the 20 years he has been denied entry has been shame and punishment enough. Rose, for all his flaws, is part of the game's history and to pretend he isn't won't make it go away.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: majino on 7/28/2009 4:01PM
Today there are sports figures who have done far worse than betting on the game. I have no doubts that football players who have been linked to murders, basketball players who have gambling issues and DUIs, and baseball players who have abused their wives will be inducted into their hall of fames, so why continue to punish Pete?
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jules on 8/16/2009 3:18AM
Yeah, Mickey Mantle was a huge drunk and a womenizer. He was accused of hitting women. But, let's celebrate him and dis the real greats of MLB. This is some of what is wromg with this world today!!! Pray for your childrena dand
Report This
By: tonyk on 7/28/2009 8:00PM
I saw Pete Rose play in the 1970 Allstar game when he knocked that catcher on his ass and scored that that run. At 12 yrs old I was impresed beyond belief. It turned me into a baseball fan. PeteRose belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: ken dagnan on 7/28/2009 8:21PM
Pete Rose should be in hall of fame .If he had been a yankee he would already be.But to bring race into this discussion only shows ignorance.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: TERRY BROWN on 7/28/2009 9:16PM
to ken dagnan with your ignorant comment. to not understand just like you demonstrated is what defines ignorant.not even knowing who you are i can tell you white.first of all this is black voices not ignorant white comments,second of all i say what i want without your approval.next it is fact that a black man is standing up for a white.next it is a fact that whites are befounded about not only the skin color of blacks but much more.by rule rose cant be in,by forgivness he can.this humble second place home run king is standing up for him when he cant do it for himself when whites hatted his living on earth to pass ruth for the title.treatened him and his fomily and you stupid enough to say race has nothing to do with it.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: wordmatic on 7/29/2009 3:00PM
Hank is right to push for Pete Rose to be in the baseball hall of fame. There are players in the hall of fame who never played against the best players of their time because Black ball players were not allowed to play. Pete Rose was a hell of a ball player and he played when everyone was allowed to play. If an asterisk has to be put next to Pete's name then one should go next to the names of all those who played before 1945.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jules on 8/16/2009 3:11AM
MLB is the American Icon.. They, as players are and should set examples for our people and most importantly should be drug free!! I personally would rather have a player gamble against a team than to be proved to use illegal drugs. This is a sad, sad world we live in. PUT PETE IN THE HALL!!!! If not explain why he is not aloud. Let's get with the real world!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This