On the Passing of Pete Rose

Once again, the powers who run Major League Baseball have shown their stupidity and blinding disregard for one of Baseball History's immortals. It was announced by Yahoo Sports and others on Monday evening, on the eve of the 2024 Postseason, that Pete Rose passed. September 30 will forever be remembered as The MLB Day of Shame.

 

Pete Rose was, like many of us with human frailities, both a great player, and maybe not such a great person. He was accused in 1989 for betting on baseball and swore to high heaven that he NEVER made bets on his own team, either as a player or as a manager.

He was punished by former Commissioner Bart Giamatti with a ban for life. This ban prevented him for being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for his many accomplishments ON THE FIELD, including the player with the most lifetime hits.

In April, 2015, I wrote a commentary called Pete Rose and Being In the Hall, where I discussed my reasons for lifting that ban. I reposted it many times, especially around the dates when the Hall of Fame results were announced and every summer around Hall of Fame Induction weekend.

This last posting in July, I mentioned that at 83, the Sands of Time were running out on forgiving him for something he may have done thirty-five years ago and that most criminals are granted parole after serving such a long sentence.

And I pointed out, that baseball owners are in partnership with gambling sites, like Draft Kings, MGM Bet, Fan Duel, ESPN BET and several other sites.

You can see the advertisements displayed on the stadium walls and scoreboards right next the the Budweiser, Miller and Coors Beer ads, while watching the game on TV or in the ballpark. And reps are hounding patrons with various in-stadium promotions to enroll subscribers, offering free seat upgrades and other enticements.

So, Rob Manfred needed to own up to his and MLB’s hypocrisy by not rescinding the ban before it was too late before he passed. And now, unfortunately, it is.

Lifting the ban now so that he could posthumously be inducted would not absolve MLB from this injustice. But by admitting it was perhaps over-zealous in its effort to keep the game pure, would be the right thing to do. For Pete’s family, for the fans and for Pete himself.

Rest In Peace, Charlie Hustle. From a loyal Mets Fan, one who loves all things Baseball and its rich history.

You will always be in My Hall of Fame.