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The Great Pete Rose: Does He Belong In the Hall of Fame?
As we’ve all heard by now, Pete Rose’s second application for reinstatement to major league baseball was denied recently by Commissioner Rob Manfred .
The first photo above shows a young Pete from early in his career, 1968.
I say let him in. That’s just my opinion, and I certainly don’t expect everyone to agree with me. No doubt Pete broke one of baseball’s cardinal rules and then lied about it for 15 years. He deserved punishment. But I think at this stage he’s suffered enough. I think his punishment should have started from the point he finally “came clean,” which was 2004. A ten-year ban seems like it would have been appropriate. It would be ending right about now.
Let’s not forget that the offense which got him banned in the first place – betting on baseball – is now a legal activity and has become a multi-million dollar industry, engaged in by tens of thousands of fans. Granted, his offense was made many times worse by the fact that he did it while in uniform, so his offense warranted significant punishment.
And let’s also not forget that we’ve still recovering from the “steroid era,” an offense which I feel is much worse than anything Pete Rose ever did. None of offenders – some of which also have lying under oath on their rap sheet – have been banned to my knowledge. Some of the worst offenders, as we know, are still playing today.
Those of us who saw him play on a regular basis will never forget the fire he brought to the game. Love him or hate him, there’s no argument he was a great player, one of the best ever. I don’t think keeping the game’s all-time hits leader out of the game for over ten years after he “came clean” is good for anyone, especially since the offense is now indulged in legally by thousands of fans.
Pete paid the price…I say let him back in.
Before you make up your mind, here’s a few highlights from the great career of “Charlie Hustle,’” Pete Rose:
Pete played in the major leagues for 24 years (1963-1986) for the Reds (1963-78), Phillies (1979-83), Expos (1984), and Reds again (1984-86). He managed the Reds from (1984-89). Over his career, Pete hit .303, with 4,256 hits (the all-time leader), 160 home runs, 746 doubles (National League record), 1,314 RBIs, 2,165 runs (National League Record), and a .375 OBP. In addition, he holds major league records for singles (3,215), games played (3,562), plate appearances (15,890), and at-bats (14,053). In 268 post-season at-bats covering 67 games, he hit .321. His 44-game hitting streak in 1978 is second all-time in the modern era to Joe DiMaggio’s 56.
Pete holds many other major league records, too numerous to list here.
Pete was a 17-time All-Star, a member of three World Series championships (1975, 1976,1980), National League Rookie of the Year (1963), three-time National League batting champion (1968, 1969, 1973), two-time Gold Glove winner (1969, 1970), Silver Slugger Award winner (1981), Roberto Clemente Award winner (1976), and a member of major league baseball All-Century team.
-Gary Livacari
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Photo Credit: Classic Baseball Collection, by Walter Iooss, Jr; and public domain
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Statistics from the Pete Rose Baseball-Reference page.