I feel bad for Rose, but he knew the rules
Then he denied what happened for years
then he only halfheartedly admitted it - I STILL don’t think he has come 100% clean
They probably feel they have not gotten nearly the Mea Culpa they needed to reconsider, and I don’t blame them. This is a problem of his own making
If he had come clean, taken responsibility, and then done something proactive - like use his name and celebrity to oppose gambling addiction - he probably would be in a different position.
But he lied, came somewhat clean, then lied again, over and over, signed autographs at casino sport books, did commercials on TV where he mocked the HOF, etc.
Gambling almost brought the sport down in 1919. Juiced players are a different level of magnitude from canned outcomes.
He refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of what he did.
I post this every time about Pete Rose.
From the time he broke into the majors in 1963 until he retired in 1986, Rose amassed 4,256 hits (1st all- time), 746 doubles (2nd all-time) and 2,165 runs (fifth all-time). He played for three World Series Champions, and was named the MVP of the 1975 Series. Those are un-godly numbers. They are the numbers of a Hall of Famer.
Unfortunately, he also ignored Major League Baseball’s Rule 21 (d)
Rule 21 (d) is posted on the clubhouse door in every major league stadium, and has been for years. Rose probably walked by those signs 15,000 times during his career.
Rule 21 (d), which states: d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year. 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.
It doesn’t say... unless you’ve got 4000 hits or 700 home runs or won 300 games or have 3000 strike outs. It says ANY PLAYER....He chose to ignore the signs, he chose to bet on baseball, and he’s being punished in accordance with the rule. He also chose to lie about his actions for 14 years, and even after acknowledging them, still doesn’t seem to understand that his mistake wasn’t failing to apologize sooner. It’s that he bet on baseball in the first place. How gutless.