On August 23, 1989, Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose agreed to a deal that included a lifetime ban from baseball as punishment for his involvement in illegal baseball betting. One of the most contentious issues in baseball today is whether or not Rose, a former player who is still the game’s all-time hits leader, should be forgiven and allowed to be considered for the Hall of Fame.
Though he maintained his innocence, Rose was finally convinced to accept a settlement, which included a ban from the game for the rest of his life. When asked about Rose’s acceptance of the punishment, Giamatti said it was a “no-contest plea” to the allegations brought against him.
What happened?
Rose was permanently banned from baseball in August 1989, three years after retiring as a player, after being accused of betting on baseball games while he was a player and manager for the Reds. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame voted to officially exclude players on the “permanently ineligible” list from entry. Rose finally acknowledged in 2004 that he bet on the Reds after years of denial.
The reason for contention is because Rose claimed that he always bet in favor of the team, as conclusive evidence for the opposite was never found. Also, his record as a player was good enough to place him in the Hall of Fame, but the MLB doesn’t see it that way.
What’s the current situation?
As of now, Rose is still not allowed in the Hall of Fame, but he ironically works as a legal betting consultant. The 80-year old Rose doesn’t seem too fazed about not being in the Hall of Fame, but the debate still rages on in baseball circles.
What do you think – should Rose be considered for the baseball Hall of Fame?