What if the Black Sox had thrown the series because they were drug addicts and been blackmailed into doing it? Would we now have a lifetime ban for those who used illegal narcotics? Didn't all those coke addicts from back in the day also put themselves in a position to endanger the integrity of the game by exposing themselves to blackmail?
Cobb bet on baseball, beat women, mercilessly beat a black grounds keeper simply for speaking to him. If Rose is kept out of the Hall, Cobb should be removed.
Pete is a great player but a horrible person, the Hall is full of guys like that.
Back in the early 20’s (I think) cocaine was legal. Anyone over 21 could walk into the apothecary shop and buy some blow.
Now you cannot do that.
My point is that the rules changed. And changed in a very clear and obvious way. Everyone that plays professional baseball gets the gambling lecture.
He actively went out and broke the rule. Its not like he needed the money and I actually believe him when he says it did not change the way he managed his team.
But if we are not going to follow the rules, then why have them? I know we live in a time where the Big Boys make up the rules as they go. I know we live in a time where records are broken by people who cheat in ways the founders of the game never dreamed of.
It has nothing to do with his being a good guy or a bad guy. He broke the rules and he admitted it.
I think the way he stressed out Giamatti caused his heart attack. For that, Rose should not be forgiven.
Cobb NEVER beat a black groundskeeper for merely speaking to him. The long-time smear campaign against Cobb is pathetic. The allegations of racism are not verified or confirmed and have, for the most part, been made up.
The lone incidence where he went into the stands and attacked a fan (who turned out to be handicapped) he was not punished because of witness statements proving the extreme extent of abuse the fan had been heaping on Cobb all game long. Opposing players even said they would have throttled the guy long before Cobb did had he been abusing them in such a manner. Plus, when Cobb realized that the loud mouth had no hands, he stopped hitting him and apologized.