"The Hall of Fame - he deserves to be in; he's got the credentials," former Yankee great Yogi Berra said. "But I don't think he should ever step foot on the field again."
Yes, Pete Rose finally admitted he bet on the Cincinnati Reds to win. That isn't a surprise. Addicts tend to make big mistakes. It's part of the disease.
Yogi is right. Pete Rose, player, belongs in the Hall of Fame. I was never a Reds fan, but Charlie Hustle played the game like no other. Well, no other since Ty Cobb...and that surlybastard was in the inaugural class. And deserved it. Rose also deserves it and he deserves never again to coach, manage, consult, or be a bat boy in MLB. Unless he works for Jeffrey Loria. They deserve each other.
Now, let's move on and get Joe Jackson into the Hall.
If Shoeless Joe gets in, then I'll support putting Pete Rose in. Otherwise, let him suffer. I didn't even like him that much before the gambling scandal -- as player/manager, he kept penciling himself into the lineup long after he stopped pulling his weight so he could get his damn hits record. And he *still* hasn't fully owned up to the fact that he's just as much an addict as any junkie. Hmph.
# Posted by: language hat at January 16, 2004 07:34 PM
I'd hate to defend Pete Rose, but look at his record in 1985. (His first full year as a player/manager for the Reds and the year he broke the hits record.) Then check out Tony Perez -- the "primary "backup 1st baseman: for the Reds that year.
If I remember correctly Rose platooned himself at 1st. He'd play when the Reds faced a right-handed pitcher and play Perez against left-handers. (I could be wrong there.)
Rose had the highest OBP on the team in '85. (OK. Perez was .001 higher, but in only 183 AB)
He might not have been the best 1st baseman in the league, but I think he was pulling his weight for the Reds that year.
But I have to agree that Joe Jackson belongs in the Hall long before Pete Rose.
# Posted by: domoni at January 18, 2004 03:16 AM
