Bud Selig Calls Meeting of All 58 HOF Members-Rose May Have Bet Against Own Team

ESPN/ ABC News Exlcusive ^ | December 21, 2002 | Jim Grey

[ewing]

ESPN just had an exclusive interview with Former Commissioner Fay Vincent and Lead Investigator Matthew Dowd that revealed additional details (above and beyond the linked article) about the lifetime suspension of all time leading hit king Pete Rose from the game of baseball.

The segment said that there was evidence that player/ coach Rose bet against his team when the Cincinnati Reds were playing the San Diego Padres.

The Commissioners office said they didn't have the necessary funds to pursue a proper rundown of that angle of the investigation, and agreed to a lifetime ban from the sport with the world famous batsman provided there was no admission of gambling on the part of Rose.

[TheOtherOne]

Jordan's two-year retirement during his foray into minor-league baseball was a thinly disguised suspension

Thanks for your perspective. Not correct, but thanks anyway.

[chadwimc]

Rose was one of the best ball players ever. He was one of my childhood heroes on the Big Red Machine of the 70's. Isn't it strange that none of his fellow players,managers,coaches,etc have defended him? To my knowledge, none have said "Pete didn't do it" or "I don't believe it".
Rose deserves to be banned. He is a typical Price Hill hillbilly...

[Charles Henrickson]

Taking a family to the park became prohibitive so I stopped. Have not been in many years and no longer follow the sport.

I take it, then, that you do not follow the NFL, NBA, or NHL, either, since those sports have ticket prices which are much, much more prohibitive.

Baseball still is the best bargain and the most family-friendly of the four major sports. Unfortunately, my favorite sport is nowhere near as affordale as it used to be. And it has become way, way too commercialized--at the stadium, on TV, and on the radio. Very annoying.

[Dog Gone]

Unfortunately, my favorite sport is nowhere near as affordale as it used to be

It used to be that an outing to the baseball game cost about as much as a night at the movie theater. Well, even as much as movie tickets have soared in price, they don't begin to compare with major league baseball ticket prices today.

Ticket prices haven't ruined the game for me. Free agency has.

If Pete Rose were starting baseball today, he'd play for about eight teams in his career. It's really hard to root for your hometown hero when you know there's a good chance he's leaving the team in the next year or two.

[mrustow]

Are you a Brit?

The segment said that there was evidence that player/ coach Rose bet against his team when the Cincinnati Reds were playing the San Diego Padres.

The Commissioners office said they didn't have the necessary funds to pursue a proper rundown of that angle of the investigation, and agreed to a lifetime ban from the sport with the world famous batsman provided there was no admission of gambling on the part of Rose.

I know you're not a baseball fan, because Pete Rose wasn't a "player-coach," he was a player-manager, and because baseball doesn't have "batsmen," cricket does. No wonder you couldn't tell the professional difference between Michael Jordan's and Rose's gambling.

[razorback-bert]

The Commissioners office said they didn't have the necessary funds to pursue a proper rundown of that angle of the investigation

See, you are wrong, baseball is broke.

[The Raven]

Rose and Clinton are two of a kind

And...the Hall of Fame, obviously, wants to maintain their reputation by nominating baseball players with criteria beyond statistics.

Similarly, since the Presdidental post is so important, the Democrats want to nominate candidates with criteria beyond spin, deceit, and cheating. With Clinton, they added rape.

[judgeandjury]

Makes me wonder how many players have bet on baseball and never been caught. I would imagine quite a few because it would be so easy for a player to get away with. They could just have a friend, a relative, or a member of their "posse" place the bet for them. Nobody would be the wiser.

[pepsionice]

Just a little comment...but even if most of the members (we know at least 10 HOF members are totally against Pete being back in baseball Ops) agree and MLB agrees he is back in...does this really mean he will get the nod for the Hall of Fame?

My guess (based on comments by at least 3 individuals who have a vote in the HOF balloting) is that Pete is not a guaranteed entry on first entry ballot. The Reds and Phillies establishment are pro-Pete and will ensure their votes get in...but if you start to compare Dale Murphy against Pete...and knowing that Dale was the most honest man ever to wear a uniform ever...who do you give your first place vote to? I don't think Pete is a guaranteed shoo-in for the HOF and he may be in for a shock...as will ole Bud Selig. Pete may well end up being allowed back in as a 'blessed' individual of baseball....but it doesn't mean we ought to hand out free tickets to the HOF ceremony to see Pete enter.