Over the last 14 years, Pete Rose has told everything about his life except what everyone wanted to hear.
He has spent the last 14 years banned from the game of baseball for allegedly betting on baseball.
In his new book, My Prison Without Bars, Rose has admitted that he bet on baseball, and not only that, he bet on the team he was managing, the Cincinnati Reds.
Within the pages, Rose admits to many problems, including having associations with people of “questionable morals” and having a gambling problem. In the epilogue, he claims that he wants to be back in baseball, “if they’ll have me.”
Rose had 4,256 hits, a major league record. He also holds the record for most singles, at-bats, games, total bases as a switch hitter, and is currently the player who has been on the winning team the most.
Surely a hitter with these kinds of statistics deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
But the debate hasn’t been about what was done on the field, it was about what was done off the field.
Rose specifically said that he never bet against his team; he did bet on his team on occasion. That would mean he did not feel that the Reds were worth betting on for some games, essentially betting against them.
Rose states that he never threw a game, or shaved points. He claims he always played, managed, and did everything 100 percent.
Rule 21d states very clearly: “Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible.”
Rose is in clear violation of this rule. The punishment for a violation is to be placed on the permanently ineligible list.
So why does Rose have a beef?
Rose was offered a deal by Baseball shortly before his five month prison stint for tax evasion. The deal stated that Rose would be declared ineligible, but with the opportunity to negotiate his re-entry in the game after one year. After the deal was signed, the commissioner of baseball changed, and decided to revoke the contract.
Many people have a problem with Rose making money off his confession. Joe Morgan says that it was in poor taste for Rose to sell each copy of his confession for $24.99. Sports reporters nationwide see the book as Rose blaming his problems on everyone but himself. They say he still has not taken responsibility for his actions.
So what does this all boil down to? Still a lot of discussion and not much of a conclusion. Everyone has differing opinions on what should be done with the “hit king,” a man who bet on baseball, has a gambling problem, and was the best contact hitter of all time.
It boils down to this: Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Not the Rose that bet on baseball, managed the Reds, or was involved in illegal activity. The Rose that belongs in the Hall is the Rose that dove head-first into third base, slapped 4,256 hits in a 24 year career, and always played as “Charlie Hustle.” Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but not as a person, as a player.
