The Hall of Fame rules only permits those who are considered eligible by Major League Baseball to be eligible for inclusion in the Hall of Fame. It’s always been that way.
Had you asked Pete Rose in 1972 why Shoeless Joe Jackson wasn’t in the Hall of Fame, he could have told you succinctly. Shoeless Joe Jackson still isn’t in the hall of fame.
Pete Rose’s accomplishments are in the Hall of Fame.
Rose was involved in one the best plays I ever saw live. Rose always ran to first base on a walk (it was a sprint in his early days and slowed later, but he always ran). One game, he noticed that the catcher was lobbing the ball back to the pitcher and the second baseman and short stop weren’t particularly wary.
Rose walked, sprinted to first, turned the bag, and headed straight to second as the ball was lobbed back to the pitcher.
He beat the pitcher’s throw to second with a head-first slide.
Second base on a walk.
That was the Pete Rose I remember.
But he doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame.
Yup, Charlie was a hustler alright.
Pete Rose was the first second baseman I saw that attempted to complete a double play by throwing to third. He took the shortstop's throw at second, turned toward first, realized there was no play...then threw to third to try and catch the runner rounding the bag.
The first time he tried it, his third baseman wasn't ready for it...resulting in an error and a run scored.
About a week later, he tried it again...and nailed the baserunner for a 6-4-5 GDP.
The play is not uncommon now, but it was first invented by Pete Rose.
That was the Pete Rose I remember.
But he doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame.
Same guy I remember. And, no, he doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame.