Pete Rose; in or out?

[Boomer]

I think banning Pete Rose from all baseball is very harsh.
He could be such a valuable asset to a major league team or even MLB. It seems wrong to have him sat outside baseball when he is obviously such a great talent and could be bringing up young talent. some sort of community service deal to make use of the guy within baseball would have been so much better for him and baseball. Let him back in, that's what I say what do you guys think?

[iFroggy]

I think he should be let in, for the sheer fact that he is the All Time Hit Leader. I do not think, personally, that we will see it while Bud Selig is the commish, and I can't really blame him. It would take a lot of guts to do that.

[Wedge231]

I think he should be in. He is the ALL TIME HITS LEADER. Nobody else has that title and many great players in it don't have a title like that.

[lmanchur.]

well, is it the Baseball hall of fame or Major League Baseball hall of fame???.. if it's the latter, than now, because he's suspended for life, but if it's the baseball hall of fame, then, obviously, yes.

I think he should be in it, in either case... funny how they would let him be on the all-time team, which was COMPLETELY organized by MLB, last year (announced at the all-star break... or was it the 1999 playoffs? -- I forget!), but not in the hall of fame.

[Marc]

I think he should be in it, too. After all, if it was based on the player's ability and contribution to the game, as it should be, he would be in, but baseball is not letting him in because they are making it until a personal life thing - yes, he gambled, but he was a great player.

[iFroggy]

I think him being a part of the All Time team was a step toward progress.

[Boomer]

His being in the all-time team may have been seen as a step in the right direction by some but I would just call it MLB contradicting itself. how can he be in the all-time team (The best in each position) but not the hall of fame (ALL the great players from baseball history) he was in the top 8 position players as named by MLB but not in the top 249 (is that right?) ever as named by MLB.

[iFroggy]

To elaborate, I believe him being on the All Time team and participating, was a step toward him getting in the hall. If and when he is brought back into baseball and given a shot at the Hall, it will be a slow progression, at least thats my opinion, not a fast one. Don't expect him in the hall anytime soon, though. :)

[Pgoodman]

He should be put in. There are many other players in baseball and other sports who may make it in who have committed crimes or done other taboo things. Let him in darn't!!

[SNichol]

He belongs in the hall. The hall is based on what he did on the field. It's time to put Pete Rose where he belongs.

[HyperBaseball]

Out.

Link: http://www.hyperbaseball.com/tow/tow4.html

[iFroggy]

Nice article Hyper. Makes sense to me.

[HyperBaseball]

Thanks ifroggy.

[FL Tiger]

Nope. The man stays out, at least until he is dead.

Pete Rose bet on baseball. He threatened the integrity of the game. Many of you are willing to look the other way because he had a lot of hits. Big whoop.

Imagine following your favorite team all season long as they fight their way into the playoffs. You're lucky enough to get some tickets to Game 7 of the World Series -- for a couple hundred bucks. Unfortunately, your team loses.

The next day, you find out that the shortstop intentionally booted a couple of ground balls that allowed the other team to score. You -- and millions like you -- will feel betrayed and will never spend another dime on baseball.

This is the scenario that baseball encountered in the Black Sox scandal in 1919. That is why the powers-that-be implemented a "zero tolerance" policy against ANY form of gambling on the sport by its players. That goes for Luis Alicea, Enos Cabell, and yes, Pete Rose.

The rules were there, Rose knew what they were, and yet he repeatedly violated them anyway. No one is above the game of baseball. Nobody.

[Wedge231]

I agree but still, the all-time hits leader deserves some recognition.

[SC-Jared]

In, definitly. He belongs, and only because some higher-ups have bitter feelings for him, he probably won't ever get in.