Charlie Hustle

Pete Rose, known to fans everywhere as Charlie Hustle, was banned permanently from baseball in 1989 and the Hall of Fame in 1991, because he admitted to betting on baseball, which since the 1919 World Series (known as the Black Sox scandal) has been a sacrosanct rule in the baseball world. At the time, he admitted to betting on other games, when he was a manager, not as a player. And he claimed it was on other games but not on his games. In 2004, he finally admitted that he also bet on games involving the Reds, but claimed he never bet against them.

For people not familiar with him, he holds many records, both as part of a team and personally, some of which may never be broken, because of the many changes in the game. The personal records include most hits, most  games played and most at-bats. He also is tied for first in most consecutive games hitting safely in the National League and number 2 all time.

There are personal awards that he received as a player including, Rookie of the year in 1963, MVP 1973 and World Series MVP in 1980. He won the National League batting title three times. There are others, too numerous to list here.

Recently, Pete Rose was interviewed by Pittsburgh sports talk radio host John Philips of 93.7 The Fan to discuss his circumstance and today's ballplayers with regard to steroids, PEDs and other banned substances. Essentially, his point was that he was wrong and so are these players.

The difference, he went on, is that they are banned for 50 games and can return, going on with their lives. If he beat his wife, shot someone, abused alcohol or drugs, he said, he would get a second chance.

On this, I agree. I think it is time to allow this baseball great receive the accolades he deserves for his play between the lines. There are many in the Hall of Fame, whose moral character is questionable at best, and in some cases, downright disgusting. But all of them were judged by their play, not for their character.

He has paid a terrific price for his sins. It is time to forgive him.