Enough Is Enough

Enough is Enough

When does a punishment become too much? That is what baseball fans have been wondering for years when it pertains to Pete Rose. The man nicknamed, “Charlie Hustle” is serving a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball since 1989. Pete Rose did the one thing that is unforgivable in the eyes of baseball purists. He bet on baseball, more importantly his own team. This becomes an issue considering Rose was the manager and could decide the outcomes of each game. The question raised would be- Is betting on baseball that big of a deal anymore? Athletes have always been tied to gambling. Some have even lost everything because of their addiction to gambling. This type of gambling accusation has kept Rose from being enshrined into baseball immortality and it doesn’t look good for the now 79- year- old to ever reach this goal. 

Rose began his career in 1963, as a 22-year-old with the Cincinnati Reds. Rose was a fan favorite from Opening Day. Everything he did on a baseball field was exactly how you were supposed to play the game. He had charisma, talent, and a great personality that connected with the fan base. Cincinnati got a steal when they drafted the multi-positional Rose. He was a difference maker as soon as he hit the big leagues. In 1963, Rose batted .273 with 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, 13 steals, and 170 total hits. This would be good enough to earn him the Rookie of the Year award. Pete Rose would wind up breaking the All-Time Hits record, Most Games Played (3,562), Most At-Bats (14,053), and Most Seasons with 200 or More Hits (10). He would also end his career batting over .300 sixteen of his twenty-four professional seasons. Charlie Hustle earned several accolades during his career including MVP, Rookie of the Year, 3x Batting Title, 2x Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, 17x All- Star, 3x World Series Champion, and a World Series MVP Award. Although some of these records have been/will be broken the resume for Rose being placed into Cooperstown speaks for itself.

So, why would Major League Baseball want to keep him from the Hall of Fame? It’s a question that I have personally wondered for years. Players in present day baseball that use PEDs get multiple chances before they are banned from competition. In fact, Rose has stated on numerous occasions that he NEVER bet on his teams to lose. Rose finished his playing career with 4,256 hits, 160 homeruns, 2,165 runs scored, and 1,314 RBIs. The only thing Pete Rose was addicted to was winning. There is not enough evidence that would lead myself or most fans to believe that Pete Rose would do anything to try and lose a baseball game. 

Major League Baseball needs to revisit this decision before it becomes too late. Fans don’t want to see another “Baseball Legend” pass away before being acknowledged for their greatness. Don’t let stubbornness get in the way of getting Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, where he rightfully belongs. If Major League Baseball wants to keep him out for his managerial career most fans could agree with that decision, but the numbers don’t lie. Pete Rose deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Please don’t waste anymore time and let Rose embrace the title of Hall of Famer.

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