I grew up in Ohio during the Big Red Machine years. I loved both Pete and Johnny. One of my best memories from childhood was driving with my family to Cincinnati to see the Reds. Had outfield seats and Pete was playing in the outfield that day. After the game we went to Johnny Bench’s Home Plate restaurant for dinner. Awesome.
I think Pete should be in the HOF. One of the greatest player ever. Yes, he has warts. He bet on baseball, but he ALWAYS bet on the Reds to win. So he was not throwing games. Hell, I wish all players had their financial success tied to their actual performance.
> He bet on baseball, but he ALWAYS bet on the Reds to win. <
Doesn’t matter. Did he juggle the lineup so his best pitchers played the games he bet on? Did he make decisions based on his bets instead of what’s good for the team?
We’ll never know. I could forgive Rose for betting on other teams. But when you bet on your own team - a team you have control over - no forgiveness.
It is pretty silly to exclude the all-time hits leader from the Hall of Fame.
“He bet on baseball, but he ALWAYS bet on the Reds to win. So he was not throwing games.”
So when a professional league determines a referee, player or coach is betting on their games, does the responsibility rest with the league to precisely determine the types of bets that were placed and how those bets might have affected the games’ outcomes before handing out punishment? Isn’t this an almost impossible burden? Isn’t it simpler (and fairer) to just establish no betting of any nature should occur?
Another amen