This wasn't a court proceeding, nor was it a criminal trial. This was an action taken by the Baseball Commission to safeguard the integrity of the game.
That that action is now being repealed shows what "integrity" that game has.
None.
MLB definition of integrity -
STEVE HOWE:
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY:
May 29, 1983: Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe is readmitted to a drug treatment center after suffering a relapse of the
cocaine problem for which he had sought treatment after last season.
June 11, 1983: Dodgers Steve Howe, is the 3rd ML player to
leave his team because of a substance-abuse problem.
September 23, 1983: Troubled Dodger reliever Steve Howe is
suspended once again because of his chronic drug problem after missing the club's flight to Atlanta and refusing to take a urinalysis upon his arrival. How , who had 18 saves and a 1.44 ERA despite spending part of the season in a drug rehabilitation program, will not be eligible for post-season play.
December 15, 1983: Commissioner Kuhn
suspends Dodgers pitcher Steve Howe for one season without pay for use of illegal drugs. The suspension will be shortened by an arbitrator and lifted.
December 19, 1991: Yankees P Steve Howe is
arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been
suspended from baseball five times for drug and alcohol problems.
June 8, 1992: Yankees P Steve Howe is
suspended from baseball indefinitely after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to buy cocaine. It is Howe's 7th suspension.
June 24, 1992: Yankees P Steve Howe is
permanently banned from baseball by Commissioner Fay Vincent after having pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to purchase a gram of cocaine. It is Howe's
7th ban from the game, as he becomes the 1st player ever permanently banned from baseball because of drugs.
November 12, 1992: Arbitrator George Nicolau overturns the suspension of Yankees P Steve Howe for being too severe. The pitcher is resigned by the Yankees.
June 21, 1996: The Yankees give Steve Howe his release.
June 24, 1996: Former Yankees P Steve Howe, released by the team just two days ago, is
arrested at Kennedy International Airport for carrying a loaded gun in his luggage. He will plead guilty to a misdemeanor and receive three years probation and 150 hours of community service.
To repeat my main point: "If the commisioner of baseball Pardons Pete Rose then he should be elgible".
I understand what you're saying and I agree with most of it... except, Pete Rose is one of the best players of our time. If he is pardoned, it has nothing to do with the integrity of the game, because, as you said, there is "None".
keeping Rose out of the HOF makes the HOF a lesser place. Adding him can only make it greater.