Pete Rose

I first met Pete Rose in 1971 at a sports luncheon in Manhattan. We were introduced to each other by the late Mel Allen at Gallegers. My first impression of Pete was of a wise guy hustler. I saw Peter play throughout the years and he was a good ballplayer and one helluva competitor. His baseball statistics reflect his playing skills and dedication to the game. For this reason Pete Rose should absolutely be in the Hall of Fame.

As for as his betting and gambling habits, so what – who cares? When and if he is voted into the Hall of Fame, he certainly will not be the only member with flaws. The legendary Babe Ruth was a known syphilitic, philandering alcoholic. Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby were all card-carrying members of the Ku Klux Klan. Pete Rose certainly hasn’t been accused of being associated with the hangings, tar and feathering and killings that were carried out in this country by the KKK.

As a matter of fact, Cobb and Speaker were suspected of fixing baseball games in 1924 and 1925. They were at the end of their careers when this happened. The baseball commissioner at the time was Kenesaw Mountain Landis and he said his hands were tied to take any action. While I do not condone Pete Rose’s betting on the games, nor do I go along with the actions of members such as Ruth, Cobb, Hornsby and Speaker, this cannot and must not take away from their performances on the baseball diamond.