The Mets Police

“Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”

That is the rule that Rose violated. It is displayed in every single clubhouse at every single level of organized, affiliated baseball. And I don't mean displayed like the calorie chart of Whoppers at Burger King. It is displayed on signs large enough to see across the locker room.

In other words - if you ever set foot in a professional locker room, you should know this rule. How many times did Pete Rose see this rule? How many clubhouses did he walk into and out of in his career? He played or managed in 4,330 games in the majors. Add in minor league games, exhibitions, spring trainings, practices, etc. - you have to figure Rose walked past this sign at least 6,000 times in his life.

He knew what the rule was - and he knew the consequences of violating that rule.

It's not a temporary ban. It's not a suspension. It says permanently ineligible.

Rose was an amazing player. Was he the greatest at any specific position? Hardly. But he was outstanding at 5 different positions. And he played the game with more heart and passion than maybe anyone in the history of the game. He wanted to win all the time no matter what.

Sadly it was that passion for winning that was ultimately his downfall.

The debate whether Rose gambled or not is in the past (though the specifics of how he bet are still in dispute). Even if - as Rose now claims (and we know what kind of credibility that has) - he only placed bets on his team to win, it still violated baseball's prime directive.

And as for those who will lump Rose in with those from the steroid era - stop. It's not the same thing. None of the juiced ballplayers (McGwire, Sosa, etc.) ever broke a baseball rule. There was no rule saying they couldn't use supplements. They did what they had to do to win and they should be in the Hall when their time comes up (see my comments about McGwire).

Bottom line, Pete broke the rule. You break the rule, you suffer the consequences.

Even Jim Rice is in the Hall of Fame now, but Pete Rose isn't.

I say put Pete in the Hall. Here's why.

You're all quick to throw your heroes away, and you shouldn't.

There were tons of McGwire & Sosa jerseys around in the mid 90s. Everyone knew they were on steroids. New York City had a ticker-tape parade for a Chicago Cub! Barry Bonds can break that record, great let's all watch Joe buck make the call! Then you turned on Bonds too when it turned out he wasn't that nice of a guy.   Then Clemens was the cool story in baseball - wow 340 wins!  Then you turned on him too.

Andy Pettitte is another hero with a decision to make these days.  If he resigns with the Yankees he can be a "Yankee for life" but if he signs with someone else, then he'll wind up as Clemens' hated steroid buddy.

Pete Rose.  4256 Hits.  3 rings.  17 time all star.  If you saw him play you know how good he was.  Nobody ever once thought he was not trying to win.  People in Cincinnati loved him, and people in Philadelphia loved him.  

He did a bad thing.  It has been twenty years.  If you have to put "suspended from baseball" on the plaque then do it.  Otherwise please remove all the bats and balls and uniforms and other Pete Rose memorabilia from the building in Cooperstown.   While you're at it, let's put some asterisks next to some of the World Series winners - maybe the 1980 Royals should be declared retroactive champions since Pete is a non-person.

You can't have a Hall of Fame without the all time hits leader, the home run season leader, the home run career leader, and a guy that in 2007 was being called the best pitcher in 50 years.  You can't undo the record book.   You can't take back the spitballs, you can't take back the steroid-added home runs, you can't take back 4256 hits.

It's time to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame.


Put 'em all in. Pete's been ostracized for 20 years. Enough.