PETE ROSE ADMITS BETTING ON BASEBALL IN NEW BOOK

ESPN ^ | 1/3/2004 | ESPN.COM

[Khurkris]

BaseBall has historically been, and to a much lesser extent currently, a game of interesting/colorful characters. It has never, to my knowledge, been promoted as a morals play.

The hate filled bile-spewing posts I see about Pete Rose tell me more about the posters than about Pete.

He never claimed to be an angel. He never claimed to be a rocket scientist. He was a BaseBall player and a damn good one. His record indicates his worthiness for inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

[river rat]

Pete may have been one of the most exciting players in Baseball....

But - he was also one of the stupidest..
He violated the rules..
He lied, and lied and lied about not following the rules..
He doesn't understand the expression -- "BANNED FOR LIFE".
He doesn't understand the expression -- "INELIGIBLE FOR THE HALL OF FAME"

Pete had a chance to redeem himself - YEARS ago..
He refused that opportunity...
At the very least - he should NOT be considered again, until AFTER his death.
On this apple, he shouldn't get a second bite.

The Hall of Fame would be profaned by his presence...
Baseball has lowered its standards - I just doubt the standards have been lowered enough to admit Pete.

Semper Fi

[raynearhood]

I beg to differ sir. Babe Ruth was an icon because he could swat the ball like no other. However, he was a good fielder and a mediocre base runner.
"Smokin' Joe" DiMaggio was hands down the greatest player of all time.
Any argument of the fact will be met with a loud Bthfff!

[aristeides]

Why would anyone bet with Rose on games that he knew Rose had considerable control over?

[TexasCajun]

Keep the ban on Rose.

For what? He's the greatest hitter of all time. Racist Ty Cobbs is in the Hall, as well as other shadier characters who played baseball.

A agree, Charlie Hustle should be included.

[TexasCajun]

There are more questions to be settled. Namely, did he bet on his own team? against his own team?

..or as a player or coach?

[uncbob]

Pete Rose's breaking of Cobbs hit record is also bogus

He couldn't have made a AAA team with his hitting the last 2 years

Cobb hit over 300 his last year and if he knew somebody like Rose was going to HANG ON like he did Cobb could. have played another 2 years and added 250-300 more hits

[TexasCajun]

Baseball Hall of Fame

Is there any doubt Pete Rose is one of the most famous professional baseball players ever?
Fame comes in many forms.

[uncbob]

Ty CObb was a well documented hateful racist. Rose is not. Rose is flawed but isnt hateful.

Baseball dam near died because of the Blacksox scandal in 1918

Judge Landis and Babe Ruth saved it

The one thing baseball and all sports fear most is a GAMBLING SCANDAL and any hint that games are FIXED

Rose and every other player is specifically warned abour betting on games
He violated the most important law of the game PERIOD

[uncbob]

However, he was a good fielder and a mediocre base runner.

So how come a great base runner like Willie May's has 140 triples in 10800 times at bat and a poor base runner like Ruth has 136 in 8300 at bats

[wardaddy]

My step-grandfather knew Cobb from early days on the circuit before Cobb hit the bigtime.

...course my old step-gramps was a racist too back then by today's lofty standards.

i will try to erase his presence from my memory and diminish his accomplishments while i'm at it..lol...to be on the safe side.

[annyokie]

Keep the ban on Rose. Amen.

[annyokie]

Ty Cobb, though an SOB, is the greatest baseball player of all time. Read his stats.

[annyokie]

So, the fact that Ty Cobb was a racist makes him less of a ballplayer? Get real!

[Hannity4prez]

Your right. Rose should NEVER have a job in baseball again. Ever. But most of us are talking about apples and oranges. The best analysis I have heard about this is on the Sporting News radios' Pappa S. ( XM Satellite radio) Paraphrasing him, he said that Rose should be in the HOF. It isn't for saints. But he had no problem if Rose never worked in baseball again. I concur. He is the all time hit leader. He deserves to be in the HOF. One of the best hitters of all time. How not be in the HOF? Just don't let him manage or coach. Its pretty simple. IMO

[Chunga]

The integrity of Major League Baseball is at stake. An apology/admission won't exonerate Rose from compromising the appearance that the game is beyond reproach.

[annyokie]

No kidding. I watched Pete Rose lie like a rug on the Phil Donahue Show, many years ago.

HOF, NOT!

[sinkspur]

The integrity of Major League Baseball is at stake. An apology/admission won't exonerate Rose from compromising the appearance that the game is beyond reproach.

Oh, for heaven's sake! Such sanctimony!

The integrity of Major League Baseball involves players giving 100%, which Rose did, his entire career.

Now, as a MANAGER, he bet on the game.

So put him the Hall as a player, and ban him from the game.

If Babe Ruth's in the Hall of Fame, Pete Rose belongs there.

And baseball has no integrity as long as people like Darryl Strawberry and Steve Howe can continue to come back, snorting coke between starts.

[Chunga]

Sanctimony? Pete Rose compromised the integrity of Major League Baseball in order to indulge a personal vice.

Strawberry and Howe's vices have at worst damaged their own careers and reputations.

[river rat]

"Phil Donahue"!!!!

I'm in disbelief that a Freeper actually watched that metrosexual jerk.....the original "squat to pee" leftist idiot.

Semper Fi