It’s All-Star Game 2015 in Cincinnati. My beloved Reds will be hosting the game this year. One of the more controversial issues has surrounded Pete Rose and his ban from baseball. Should Pete Rose be in the Hall of Fame?
Here’s the ‘short’ version. Pete Rose was a switch-hitting Major League baseball (1963-86) and has more hits than any other player ever (4,256). He played in 17 All-Star games at 5 different positions (nobody has done that either). You can read more of his story in wikipedia, but in 1989, under allegations that he gambled on baseball games (possibly as a manager of his own team), he agreed to a permanent ineligibility from baseball. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame voted not to allow anyone with a permanent ban in the Hall of Fame. Now, 25 years after his ban, the question is should he be allowed in the Hall of Fame.
I say, “Let Pete In!” Here’s three of my reasons…
1. The Hall of Fame contains the best players in baseball.
The Hall of Fame is filled with people of less than noble character (womanizers, drug abusers, drunks, and racists). Some are in the Hall of Fame with help from performance enhancing drugs. Pete Rose’s gambling did not affect his performance or his record.
If the Hall of Fame is going to be a list of the best players, you have to have Pete Rose. He owns, and has for over 30 years, the foundational record of baseball – Hits. Home runs are exciting and no-hitters are sensational. But baseball is about getting a hit. And Pete Rose had more than any other player. The closest recent player was 800 behind him (Derek Jeter – 3,465; Current player Alex Rodriguez has 3,020)
2. A ‘Rose’ in the Hall of Fame will be good for baseball.
Baseball’s cardinal sin is gambling (due to the World Series scandal in 1919). Every player knows not to gamble, it’s posted in every clubhouse. Pete should not have done it.
But it has been 25 years. It’s been talked about too long. All star games and Hall of Fame voting has been overshadowed by the controversy of Pete Rose. We shouldn’t even be talking about him now, other than how great a player he was. I think to have Pete in the Hall of Fame would finally communicate a forgiveness of the past and recognition of a great accomplishment.
3. He played baseball the way it’s supposed to be played.
Pete’s nickname was ‘Charlie Hustle.’ He got this from pitcher, Whitey Ford, for sprinting down to first base after a walk. He leaped in the outfield for a Mickey Mantle home run that was clearly over his head. His infamous head first slide was both dangerous and exciting. He barreled over catcher, Ray Fosse, to score the winning run in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star game (played in Cincinnati).
Pete Rose was a scrapper. He found ways to get on base. He played any position that was needed. That’s the way you play baseball. And if he ever gets in the Hall of Fame, it’s because he hustled all the way, in spite of the obstacles (many of them his own making).
If you agree or disagree, let me know. It really doesn’t matter what we think, but it gives us something to discuss.
But let me leave you with a greater thought…
Aren’t you glad you don’t have a group of ‘all stars’ voting on whether you should get into heaven or not? Could you imagine all the stuff they would bring up that we’ve done that might ban us? The only One who decides is Jesus.
No matter what you’ve done, no matter how much you have hurt your life or the life of someone else, you do not have to accept a permanent ban from Heaven (which is greater than the Hall of Fame). Because Jesus died on the cross for everything you ever did wrong, you can receive His forgiveness if you repent and surrender to Jesus.
One of the problems Pete Rose has is his reluctance to accept his wrong doing. His pride has hurt him more than his gambling. Maybe if he would have admitted what he did and all he did, he might be in the Hall of Fame today. Don’t make the same eternal mistake.
You can read some of my other articles about Baseball & Faith: The Most Exciting Play in Baseball, Baseball & Christianity – 5 Similarities, Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie & Faith, Beyond Baseball – Jackie Robinson Day.