Pete Rose and Being in the Hall

Criminals pay a long time for crimes they commit.  This includes murder, robbery, grand theft auto just to name a few.

Punishment is there as a detriment and most people don't need to have to be reminded all the time because most of us have moral integrity, either taught to us as children or learned by watching stupid people as adults.

But of course, most criminals are who they are because they have different value systems.

In baseball, as a player walks into the clubhouse, he sees a sign posted which says essentially, "Thou shalt not gamble on baseball." The rule applies equally to players, coaches or managers, without regard to whether he gambles for his team to win or lose.

So, when Pete Rose took his "plea bargain" to resign his position as Manager of the Cincinnati Reds, he did so to avoid further inquiry or prosecution by baseball. At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do.

Since 1989, team owners and various commissioners have wrestled with drug problems and steroids in the game, finally recognizing in 2005 that punishment needed to be meted out. But none came until baseball became so compromised that the blind eye had to go.

But while records were smashed and players were rewarded with huge contracts for their bogus abilities, only in the last few years were real punishments given to players for cheating, even though it wasn't cheating when both Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa raced to beat Roger Maris' home run record, or when Bonds beat McGuire "record" or when he beat Henry Aaron's all time record.

And although players have been banned for huge numbers of games, most recently Alex Rodriguez for a whole season, NO ONE HAS BEEN BANNED FOR LIFE.

And they cheated.

All the drug and steroid era players who have retired are all eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Thus far, only the value system of the voters of the Baseball Writers Association of America has not elected these cheaters into the Hall. But who knows? Maybe someday Bonds or Clemens or Palmero or McGuire  could be elected, and then what would be the excuse to keep Pete Rose out?

So, other than the BBWAA's rules which say eligibility expires after 20 years from retirement or otherwise leaving the game, there is no MLB reason to keep Pete Rose out of the Hall. MLB does not control entry or eligibility.

More than 25 years have elapsed since 1989. I am not minimizing the actions that Rose admitted to doing. But even criminals are finally released from their punishment, as society believes they are rehabilitated.

In 1972, the BBWAA waived its rules of a five year waiting period until a player retired to vote Roberto Clemente into the Hall, even though he was an active player when he died in the New Year's Eve plane crash. I know he was doing charitable work for earthquake victims in Nicaragua. But the rules were suspended, nevertheless, and he was admitted the very next summer.

Isn't it about time Pete Rose accorded the same?