Re: Pete Rose, 20 years later...HOF or not?
Do you get into the HOF for playing achievements or for helping little old ladies cross the road?
Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053)[1], and outs (10,328). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B, and 1B).
He didn't fix games, he bet his team would win. According to the Dowd Report itself, "no evidence was discovered that Rose bet against the Reds."
He bet his team would win and he is being placed in with people who knowingly threw games for profit? That's ridiculous.
Rose lied about his gambling for years ... that is the real problem I see here. If he came out at the beginning and admitted he bet that his teams would win ... I can't see giving him a lifetime ban for that.
On February 4, 1991, the Hall of Fame voted to formally exclude individuals on the permanently ineligible list from being inducted into the Hall of Fame by way of the Baseball Writers Association of America vote. AFTER THE FACT.
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