Pete Rose died last week.
Rose died in Las Vegas of what the Clark County Medical Examiner said was hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—the arteries around his heart were clogged and he had a fatal heart attack.
He was 83.
Rose was the all-time Major League Baseball hit leader with 4,256 hits and batted .302 from 1963-1986.
He was known for his willingness to take an extra base, meaning he turned a lot of singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
He was also famous for sliding headfirst into a base.
He was an excellent fielder who started his career at third base and eventually shifted across the field to first base.
He won world championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976, then a third with the Phillies in 1980.
That’s the resume of a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, but you won’t find Rose there…and you shouldn’t ever find him there, either.
Rose was banned permanently from baseball for being found by an investigation launched by the commissioner’s office to have bet on baseball.
Betting on baseball has been a massive “no no” since players on the 1919 White Sox took money to play poorly in the 1919 World Series. Ironically, they lost to the Reds.
In every baseball club house, there is a poster on the wall just inside the entrance that is a copy of the baseball rule that explains that gambling on baseball is illegal and what the penalty is for violating that rule—a lifetime banishment from baseball.
The investigation was clear, and the evidence was obvious.
And he was banned from baseball.
Since that day 35 years ago, Rose has not been allowed to be associated with the Reds, the Phillies or professional baseball.
Why the harsh punishment?
Because we, the fans and consumers of baseball, must be able to trust that what is happening is real, and that the results are legitimate.
Every day since he was banned, Reds fans have been screaming about the injustice of their city’s favorite son being locked out of the hallowed halls of baseball immortality. And Rose has been out in front of them, egging them on.
You may not like me anymore after what I am about to tell you, Reds fans, but that can’t be my top concern. You need to hear the truth, no matter how much it might hurt.
In this world, there are two kinds of people—givers and takers.
Givers spend their lives thinking of others and helping them first.
Takers are concerned about themselves and their own interests first and foremost.
Pete Rose was a “taker”.
He knew the rules on gambling and never cared enough to follow them. He believed he was above them.
While he was playing, he infamously ran over Brewers’ catcher Ray Fosse in the 12th inning to win the 1970 All-Star game. Fosse suffered a career-ending shoulder injury from that hit.
Rose never apologized or showed any remorse for what he did...in an exhibition game!
As a matter of fact, he didn’t really ever feel bad about betting on baseball. He only admitted that he bet on games in 2007 in the days and weeks leading up to the release of a book that detailed his betting habits and how he broke baseball’s rule.
He agreed to admit to what he did when the financial proceeds of a book deal benefited him.
Truth is, none of what Rose did for baseball was for the good of the game. It was always and only for the good of Pete Rose, and anyone else who benefitted was a coincidence.
And don’t be fooled by the arguments that his legions still trot out there.
“His ban was a lifetime ban, and he’s dead, so he should be inducted.” Wrong. His absence from the hall is never more important than it is now with gambling and sports in bed with each other.
“He never bet while he was playing, so he should be allowed in as a player.” We don’t know if he did or didn’t bet while he was playing, but his gambling as the Reds’ manager ruined his chances—just like a little bit of chocolate makes a vanilla milk shake not vanilla anymore.
“Gambling is legal almost everywhere now, so what’s the big deal?” The big deal is that the next time your team loses a game because a reliever gives up four runs in the ninth inning, do you want to wonder if he bet against your team that day?
And, by the way, do a search for Padres’ infielder Tucupita Marcano and see what happened to him this summer.
Sorry Reds fans, you’ve been duped.
Pete Rose only cared about you because you kept his name and his dream of getting into the Hall of Fame alive.
You were loyal to him, but he didn’t care enough to return the favor.