He didn’t need to bet against the Reds to give himself an advantage. If you’re the manager and you’re betting on your team to win on some days and other days you’re not, it’s certainly going to influence your managerial decisions in how you use the resources available to you. Especially when you’re a degenerate gambler and an all-round asshole generally.
Can’t argue he is an ass. Also was addicted to gambling. But the crime was as a manager. Not a player. He should be inducted as a player. Not what he did after. Pretty sure OJ is still in the HOF in Canton. So is Ray Lewis.