Sure. Hall of Fame eligibility should be based on playing performance -- nothing else -- for which Rose is certainly deserving. There are plenty of scoundrels already in the Hall of Fame. Rose's punishment for his misdeeds off the field is the everlasting shame he brought upon himself. Nonetheless his achievements as a player should be memorialized. At least he did it the old-fashioned way: without performance-enhancing drugs!
04-24-06 12:45 AM Professor Sure. Hall of Fame eligibility should be based on playing performance -- nothing else -- for which Rose is certainly deserving. There are plenty of scoundrels already in the Hall of Fame. Rose's punishment for his misdeeds off the field is the everlasting shame he brought upon himself. Nonetheless his achievements as a player should be memorialized. At least he did it the old-fashioned way: without performance-enhancing drugs!
04-24-06, 12:29 AM Jelp01 As far as his playing record, he'd be an obvious first-ballot HOF'er....no question. However, unless HOF eligibility rules are changed and/or Pete Rose is reinstated, then he should not be considered.
Whether one likes the eligibility standards for the Hall or not, they are what they are, and based on those standards, he stays out.
04-24-06, 09:10 AM Koz Do I think Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame based on his performance on the baseball field? Absolutely.
I also think he should honor the deal he made and remain banned for life. The Hall of Fame should have a special Induction Day just for him, the day after he is buried. Wink
04-24-06, 09:31 AM HOSS Based on the things seen in sports today the wrong Pete did seems somewhat mild. I would like to see him in the hall. I understand if a person breaks the rules they should pay. but I am a forgiving man and if it were up to me I would say let him in. I am not saying this is the right thing but I believe in second chances.
I am sure there are people in the hof that has done much worse but I guess getting caught is a crime in its self
thanks. Hoss
04-24-06, 10:35 AM DorianGreyed When Rose signed a MLB contract, he agreed to certain stipulations. Some of those concerned gambling and some concerned phrases similar to "the good of Major League Baseball." He reneged on that agreement. When it was discovered that he was gambling on baseball, an act outlawed by the organization to which Rose belonged, rather than face a full, complete, and lengthy investigation and exposure of his actions, he agreed to a lifetime ban from MLB. For years, he denied betting on his own team, and complained about the agreement he made. Eventually, the truth came out and he admitted that he bet on his own team. Rose obviously has trouble keeping his word. MLB shouldn't. If Pete wants in the Hall of Fame quickly, there is a way he can arrange that. Otherwise, for once, Rose should be held to his word.
04-24-06, 02:25 PM Professor Yes, I know Rose's "lifetime ban" is a done deal, and -- like Koz -- I'm not suggesting it should now be reversed. And Rose is no angel (or Angel, for that matter Wink ) But the question was "should he" be a member of HOF, which I took to mean "should he have been", and so my answer is still yes. Bart Giamatti was a just and wise Commissioner of Baseball, acting to uphold the integrity of the game, but I think he made the wrong decision. (And unfortunately never lived to see his son Paul nominated for an Oscar, either!)
04-24-06, 03:00 PM Koz I have to agree that Pete Rose was no angel, but he does not help his case much with regards to doing whatever he can to have baseball reverse his banishment decision. Actually he seems to do whatever he can to tick off those in the commissioner’s office.
There is a store in Cooperstown on Main Street a mere pitching wedge (about 100 yards) from the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is even on the same side of the street. It is called “Pete Rose Ballpark Collectibles”. Pete Rose does not own the store, his longtime good friend (Whom last I heard was pleaded guilty to felony tax fraud charges and was looking at hard time Roll Eyes ) does.
Pete Rose against the wishes of baseball used to attend autograph signing sessions at that store on Induction Weekend. (Baseball’s “big” weekend) For several years he attended and was a distraction to some of the members of the Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum executives.
I attend every Induction Weekend I possibly can and I have nothing personally against Pete Rose showing up then, he just hurt his own case I believe. Heck I bumped into him a few years ago there in an ally adjacent to Pioneer Street and he signed a baseball for me for free. (He even added “4,256” Wink )
He also does not care what he signs. Many players refuse to sign certain items for personal reasons or will not do certain inscriptions. Joe DiMaggio would never sign anything that also mentioned or pictured Marilyn Monroe. Bob Feller will not write “Rapid Robert” on anything although it was his nickname.
Pete Rose has no such rules. A couple of years ago I drove to a Pete Rose signing in New Jersey to see if he would sign a “special” baseball for me. I took a regular MLB leather baseball and dyed it jet black. (Several coats and after a good buffing it looked great Big Grin ) When he saw it he laughed out loud and asked me where I got it. He signed in silver Sharpie it as I explained that “I made it myself”. We talked about it for a couple of minutes and he was generally amused by it.
04-24-06, 03:02 PM DorianGreyed I think he should be, and I imagine that he'll be on the first ballot after he is eligible.
04-24-06, 03:12 PM Koz That won't happen DG. Pete Rose's eligibility for the baseball writer’s Hall of Fame BBWAA ballot expired in 2005, on the day when the 2006 candidates were announced. He is now unable to be voted in by the baseball writers.
The revamped Veteran’s Committee is his last shot now, or if like I previously mentioned a special election is held after his death.
04-24-06, 03:21 PM DorianGreyed In that case, tough luck, Pete. You bet on the wrong, er, horse.
04-24-06, 08:38 PM Kelleygirl Pete belongs in the Hall of Fame along with all of his unbroken stats. He was such a treat to watch play ball --- he truly was Charlie Hustle. Yes, he screwed up but was an inspirational player and it is, after all, the Hall of Fame -- not the Hall of Shame -- and I'll "bet" that he broke all of those records without even using steroids.
04-26-06, 10:01 AM Koz I agree Kelley that Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. I really believe and hope he will be enshrined after he no longer walks this rock.
As a baseball fan my opinion on the whole thing is that Pete Rose broke the long standing, strictly enforced rule of betting on baseball. The “Black Sox” gambling scandal almost caused the collapse of professional baseball. Professional baseball took steps to protect the “integrity of the game” by hiring a commissioner who wields supreme power. Granted the owners pick and then vote on who will be commissioner but they are bound by the commissioner’s decisions even if they don’t like them. Gambling (On baseball) is strictly forbidden at every level of professional baseball and there are meetings every single year with all players at all levels to remind them of this. There is even a sign in every dugout and clubhouse just in case they forget.
If a player breaks this “golden rule” he is dealt with harshly. Remember Willie Mays? In 1979 Willie Mays took a part time coaching and consulting job with the Mets. He also took a part time job working for a casino. His duties with the casino had nothing to do with wagering bets of any kind. He was an “ambassador” and was paid to schmooze, give autographs, and play golf with high rollers. How did MLB react? Three months after he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame he was banned from any and all baseball related activities. That ban was not lifted until 1985. That is how they dealt with a widely loved and one of the arguably best players ever to set foot on a baseball field.
As for the steroids, I think it is bad but it was not even illegal to use performance enhancing drugs until a few years ago. At first the penalties were mild and for the most part nothing but a slap on the wrist.
My personal belief on this is that MLB turned a blind eye to the obvious steroid usage especially after the player strike of 1994-1995. Baseball was once again suffering, but this time it was due to the strike. (I myself a self proclaimed baseball nut did not watch, attend or otherwise support baseball for over two years) The home run race between Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa of 1998 gave baseball the “juice” it was looking for to bounce back to pre strike attendance and more importantly to them, profit margins. MLB knew what was going on then and simply turned their heads to gain fan excitement and support.
The recent steroid scandals (Palermo, Bonds, McGuire, ect) have once again given baseball a black eye but MLB is now acting to end this “problem”. The baseball customer has made it clear that they don’t want juiced up monsters hitting home runs 500+ feet long anymore and since steroids have already served their purpose for MLB they are now responding in kind.
04-26-06, 10:27 AM coldfuse Funny thing is, Pete Rose is probably more closely associated with Hall of Fame discussion than any player in history. All fans know who he is and what he accomplished.
The average Joe wants to believe that, with enough heart, he could be a professional sports star. Arnold Palmer gave us this fantasy in golf, and Pete Rose did in baseball.
But he is not above the game and should not be permitted to control baseball. The ban for life is appropriate, and I hope the plaque is ordered the day he passes.
05-07-06, 11:42 AM dogspit I think Pete should continue to serve as an object lesson to those to come that baseball will NOT tolerate gambling. His arrogance throughout the years with regards to the allegations and the fact that the commissioner who banned him pretty much died from it makes me sure he belongs on the outside looking in forever.
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