Every so often, there is a controversial figure that makes the headlines for some time and then fades away into history, only to be distorted for future generations. However, if enough media sources write about it, an accurate reflection of events can be recorded, and allow the reader to form an original opinion. Now, some may ask why Safe Online Gaming is opining on the subject of if Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame or not being that this is an online gambling blog site. Well, when you have arguably the greatest baseball hitter in the history of Major League Baseball not in the Hall of Fame because of gambling; we feel we should provide our expertise on the matter.
Let's allow the opposing points of view on why Pete Rose shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame the floor. First, baseball purest believe that a lifetime band of baseball is the ultimate justice if a player or manager bets on baseball. Although, it was documented that Charlie Hustle placed wagers on his team, Cincinnati Reds to win, while he was a manager; the All-Time Hits Leader did in fact bet on baseball. Professional sports is entertainment for millions of enduring fans, and if a player altered their performance due to a wager made on the outcome of a game; this could taint the integrity of the game. Although the most famous Chicago White Sox player back in 1919, Shoeless Joe Jackson had an excellent World Series, both he and his teammates were involved in a game-fixing scandal of intentionally losing and led to a lifetime ban from baseball. Those who hated how cocky and outspoken Rose was during and after his playing days, hated the fact that Pete would not immediately admit to his wrong doing, and felt the omission from the Hall of Fame was a just decision from the writers and committee who allow admission to join other baseball immortals.
We will discuss the merits of Pete Rose and why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame as a player, but first, we have to poke holes in the argument from the other side. Pete Rose did in fact bet on baseball. He did so as a manager. He also lied and stated he did not bet on baseball, until there was overwhelming evidence that he did. Rose loved to gamble and placed over 18 bets on the Reds to win games while he managed them. Could this have swayed the outcome of a managerial decision? Of course it might have. Yet, Manager Pete Rose did not place bets on baseball while he was a player. (There is some evidence that he did place bets while he was a player/manager, but again it was on the Reds to win the game.) In addition, the rule of omission from being allowed on the Hall of Fame ballot did not come into affect until right after he admitted he did bet on baseball. A lifetime ban from being able to play the game of baseball, and from being recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the game are completely two different punishments that do not have anything to do with each other.
Now that Major League Baseball's banned legend has died at the age of 83, public opinion will request that the MLB will look to Rose being named the MLB Rookie of the Year in 1963 winning two World Series titles, back-to-back championships with the Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" in 1975 and 1976 seasons. He also helped Mike Schmidt and the Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series title in 1980 as he played for the rival for five years before returning home. Pete Rose has so many accomplishments that it is easier to list them as bullet points (and also our submission as to why Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame!):
Most career hits 4,256
Most career singles 3,215
Most career times on base 5,929
Most career games played 3,562
Most career winning games played 1,972
Only player to play at least 500 games at five different positions (1B-939), (LF-671), (3B-634), (2B-628) and (RF-595)
Most career runs by a switch hitter 2,165
Most career doubles by a switch hitter 746
Most career walks by a switch hitter 1,566
Most career total bases by a switch hitter 5,752
Most seasons of 200 or more hits 10
Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits 23
Most years played in National League 24
Most career runs in National League 2,165
Most career doubles in National League 746
Most career games with 5 or more hits in National League 10
Modern (post-1900) National League record for longest consecutive-game hit streak 44
Modern record for most hitting streaks of 20 or more consecutive games in National League 7
Pete Rose was also honored with the 1968 Hutch Award, the 1969 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, and the 1976 Roberto Clemente Award and in 2010 was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals. He made the National League All-Star roster 17 times, and won the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1973 (also finishing in the top five vote-getters in 1968, 1969, 1975 and 1976. In 1968, 1969 and 1973, Rose led the league in batting average.
In the documentary of Pete Rose, "Charlie Hustle", Rose stated that he will probably have to be dead before "they" allow him to be enshrined into Cooperstown where he belongs. Well, September 30, 2024 is the day that potentially can lead Major League Baseball to right the wrong, and put Pete Rose where he belongs.
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