In 1989, Major League Baseball banished Pete Rose for life. A lengthy investigation had persuaded A. Bartlett Giamatti, then baseball's commissioner, that Mr. Rose had recklessly violated major league rules by betting on baseball games, including 51 games played by the Cincinnati Reds, the team Mr. Rose managed. It was the right decision then, and should not be overturned now. Last month Mr. Rose met privately with the present commissioner, Bud Selig, inspiring speculation that the 13-year ban might be lifted to allow Mr. Rose to rejoin the game in some fashion, perhaps as a manager. That would be a...