Tagged: Pete Rose

An Open Letter To Bud Selig Re: Reinstatement of Pete Rose

The BBWAA Hall of Fame ballots have officially been released.  One name that is not among the candidates to be enshrined is Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader. 
thumbnailCAAMARXE.jpg Some names that will appear on the ballots are names connected with steroid use.  There is no forgiveness in baseball, unless your method of cheating was by steroid use.  Why?  Why is betting on baseball a worse crime?  Pete Rose never bet against the Reds so it wasn’t like he “fixed” the games to ensure he would win a bet.  He lied about his gambling at first, but finally broke down and admitted his wrong-doing.  He regrets his mistake.  Players like Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro denied any wrong doing despite the evidence that proves otherwise.  Roger Clemens will deny his actions till the day he dies and even then, will never admit it.  Alex Rodriguez denied reports of his usage, but finally revealed the truth after the evidence was leaked to the press.  His reward?  He gets to keep playing as if he did nothing wrong.  Why?  Why does a player that tests positive for steroid use gets to get caught 3 times before he faces a lifetime ban?  Why are steroid users allowed to be on the Hall of Fame ballot?  Are they not cheaters?

thumbnailCAF2K6Q0.jpg          Dear Mr. Selig, I don’t understand why Major League baseball has crucified Pete Rose.  Sure, he made a mistake.  He bet on baseball and that is strictly against the rules.  He made a mistake and is truly remorseful.  As the Commissioner of MLB, are you afraid to overturn a previous Commissioner’s ruling?  Why?  Is there no forgiveness in baseball?

In light of the steroid era, haven’t we learned anything?  The steroid users have been glorified.  In 1998, fans of MLB enjoyed the greatest homerun race ever.  Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire slugged it out and the fans went wild.  At the time, we thought we were witnessing history, only to discover that it was all smoke and mirors.  In hindsight, it was a major disappointment.  Then there’s Barry Bonds, who belted 70 homeruns to become the homerun king.  Again, it was all an illusion, wasn’t it?

Considering the fact that steroids not only tarnished the game, it destroyed the integrity of America’s past time.  So why do players like Palmeiro get rewarded by appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot?  I don’t get it.  MLB has always taken the stance that baseball is a pure sport, a sport with integrity.  Let’s face it, baseball has been stained by steroids.  Players looked for an extra edge and found it.  They cheated, pure and simple.  The problem that I have is that if a player fails a drug test, he gets suspended for 90 days or whatever it is.  then, if he tests positive again, it’s a 180 game suspension.  The third offense results in a lifetime ban.  So why is it, that Pete Rose received baseball’s death penalty for one mistake made after his playing days were over?  Pete Rose played the game the way it should be played.  He set the example for everyone.  He never used steroids or cheated in any way, shape, or form as a player.  As a manager, he bet on his team to win.  Big deal.  Why is his case a greater crime than steroid use?  I think there is something wrong with that picture.

Here is my proposal, Mr. Selig.  I have an idea that might actually prove to be the right thing to do.  I hope that you read this post and seriously consider what I am about to suggest.  Why?  It is the right thing to do and I am confident that you are a man of integrity.  Here’s my idea. 

Since Pete Rose bet on baseball while managing the Reds, then he should be banned as a manager.  However, since Pete has alot to offer, he should be allowed to coach, mentoring young players and teaching them how to play the game the way it was meant to be played and teaching them about the dangers of cheating.  Pete Rose should be allowed to participate in the game of baseball in some capacity.  He was the greatest hitter ever.  Have some respect and give him his due.  Pete Rose has paid the price for his mistake and is sorry.  He should be forgiven.  Perhaps a little forgiveness would bring back some of the integrity that has been lost in Major League baseball.

In addition, Pete Rose deserves to be in the hall of Fame, period!  His numbers speak for themselves.  His success came the old-fashion way, he earned it.  He worked hard to get where he had gotten.  He deserves to be on the ballot to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  It doesn’t mean that the writers will vote him in, although I think he deserves it.  He should at least have the opportunity to be on the ballot.  It’s time to be a leader, Mr. Selig, and give Pete Rose a reprieve.  It has been long enough.  Don’t you believe in giving people second chances?  Steroid users get second and third chances.  Pete Rose needs only one second chance and you are the only one that has the power to forgive.  There is no forgiveness in baseball, but maybe there should be.


thumbnailCARERZJN.jpgPete Rose was my favorite player when I was a youngster.  He inspired me to play baseball.  He inspired me to hustle.  He inspired me to dive head first into whatever base I was trying to reach.  He inspired me to aspire to becoming a big leaguer some day.  Pete Rose was awesome.  My very first MLB game was at Riverfront Stadium and Pete Rose was playing third base.  He was the reason I wanted to see the Cubs and the Reds play.  Rose captivated my imagination and made me realize that a player had to work hard and give 100% all the time.  He inspired a strong work ethic in me.  Watching Pete Rose chase Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak was unbelievable.  Every game was exciting.  That was what made baseball so great.  He chased the 3,000 hit milestone.  Then, the incredible 4,000 hit milestone.  He finally broke Ty Cobb’s record for most hits all-time.  It was amazing.  Pete Rose kept me interested in baseball, no, more like obsessed.  Pete Rose deserves some credit.  He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  Have a heart and reinstate his eligibility status.  It’s the right thing to do.  If it wasn’t for Pete Rose, I would not be the diehard baseball fan that I am today.   I hope that somehow you read this, Mr. Selig.  I have the utmost respect for you and your integrity and I trust that you will consider doing the right thing.   Thank you,  Scot Blust.

WHY PETE ROSE BELONGS IN THE HALL OF FAME!

Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame, period!  Major League Baseball, however, disagrees.  In 1989, the Commissioner’s Office handed Pete a lifetime ban from baseball for gambling. 
thumbnailCATZ5A2Q.jpg September 11th marked the anniversary of his record breaking 4,192 career hit.  Last night, Bud Selig allowed Rose to step out onto the field in Cinncinatti for the first time since the ban.  It is about time.

thumbnailCAF2K6Q0.jpgPete Rose made a mistake.  While managing the Reds, Pete bet on his team to win.  He never bet against the Reds.  The games were not fixed.
thumbnailCAJ99TC9.jpg  Rose was just confident in his ballclub and put his money where his mouth was.  Of course, that is against the rules.

Rose admitted his crime but not right away.
thumbnailCA3QXS93.jpg  When Bart Giamatti asked Pete to be honest, Pete repeatedly denied that he bet on baseball.
thumbnailCAA01TSY.jpg  When the evidence surfaced, Giamatti was furious that Rose had lied and brought the hammer down.  Roger Clemens finds himself in a similar predicament.  After all, if the truth be known, the Hall of Fame would be out of reach.

Pete Rose made a terrible mistake and was handed MLB’s death sentence.

Major League Baseball and the Hall of Fame Commitee expect baseball players to be perfect role models, untainted and pure.  In recent years, highlighted by the steroid era, baseball fans have begun to realize that baseball players are not perfect, some have broke the rules and cheated.  Steroids have tainted the game.
thumbnailCARERZJN.jpg  Pure and simple.  Learning that the homerun kings of our generation accomplished their feats unfairly, the game has come under a great deal of scrutiny.  The homerun record have fallen into question and the players involved may never make it to the Hall Of Fame.  Why haven’t they been banned like Pete Rose was?

Alex Rodriguez finally admiited his involvement with steroids and yet plays on.  A-Rod gets to stay in the game and chase the homerun milestones.  Why?  Is he special?  MLB has proven that it has double standards in these matters.  Let’s face it, there is favortism, grudges, and stubborn pride in the Commissioner’s Office.  Bud Selig did the right thing by letting Pete Rose celebrate his accomplishment but should also lift the ban.  Pete Rose has paid the price and deserves a second chance.  He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.  Look at his numbers, which speak for themselves.  The only thing that matters is what Pete Rose meant to the game of baseball.  He has Hall of Fame written all over him.

thumbnailCAAMARXE.jpgPete Rose exemplified what the game of baseball is all about.  He inspired everyone with his hard-nosed, hard working, work ethic.  His head and his heart were always in the game.  His nickname was “Charlie Hustle” because he gave 100 per cent every moment of the game.  If he grounded the ball back to the pitcher, normally an easy out where most batters would immediately give up and stop running, Pete would sprint down to first and try to beat it out.  Pete Rose gave his all, every play, no matter what.  He was a special player.  He was the spark of The Big Red Machine’s offense.  He was the leader that set the example.  He was my boyhood hero. 

thumbnailCAPE830R.jpgIn 1977, I went to my first Major League game.  The Cubs played the Reds at Riverfront stadium and I was in awe.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of Pete Rose.  Charle Hustle lived up to his name and he made the game exciting.  Even then, I knew I was watching a Hall Of Famer.  Pete Rose is a living legend to me.  Regardless of his lifetime suspension, I will always consider Pete Rose, one of the best to ever play the game of baseball.  It was Pete Rose who inspired me to follow baseball religiously.  As a boy, I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player.  I wanted to be like Pete Rose.  He was the reason I played baseball.  He was the reason that I lived for baseball.  He was the reason that I became obsessed with baseball. 

Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, period!